Team Novo Nordisk earned a podium finish and its best result to date at a major U.S. race when Spaniard Javier Megias sprinted to a second place finish on Stage 6 of the USA Pro Challenge. 

The result marks Megias’ first podium with Team Novo Nordisk.

“We believed we could stay away, so we worked really well together heading into the finish. I played my cards well but the sprint was very long and I was caught at the line,” the 31-year-old Megias said. “Today’s result is a fantastic accomplishment for me and the team and for people around the world who are affected by diabetes.”

“Javier has been a part of this team since the beginning. He has always been one of our veterans, leaders and strongest riders on the team and the entire organization is very proud of his performance today,” Team Novo Nordisk CEO and co-founder Phil Southerland said. “The USA Pro Challenge airs in 220 countries, so millions of people affected by diabetes just saw Javier get a second place finish and we hope it serves as massive inspiration.”

Several riders attacked early into the 164.5-kilometer stage, yet the peloton wasn’t willing to let them go. It wasn’t until the second intermediate sprint that Megias and six riders attacked and quickly gained a sizeable gap on the field. After working well together for more than 100 kilometers, the breakaway companions started attacking one another. Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Nate Brown (Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team) set off solo with five km remaining. With a kilometer remaining, Megias bridged up to the pair, and once they were inside the final 500 meters, he sprinted off the front alone. Only Kreuziger, a Giro d’Italia stage winner, could grab his wheel and then edged out Megias for the win.

“This is a special race for Team Novo Nordisk, not only because we are an American team, but also because the CEO of the race, Shawn Hunter, has two children with type 1 diabetes. We're extremely happy to get such a big result at this race and show the world what may be possible with diabetes," added Southerland.

The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team continues racing at the USA Pro Challenge on Sunday’s Stage 7. The 109.7-km final stage begins in Golden and features one categorized climb and one intermediate sprint before four finishing laps around downtown Denver.