The German ProConti team NetApp-Endura has announced participation in the Tour de France as a major goal for the season. “The Tour de France is our clear goal. With the successes at the Vuelta a España we showed what potential this team has. From year to year we have set ourselves higher goals and we have always justified this with results. So it is only logical that we are now trying to take part in the biggest race of the year.", team manager Ralph Denk announced today on the Raublinger team's website.
Should NetApp-Endura receive a wildcard for the Tour of France, a German team would be at the start of the most important cycling event for the first time since 2010. “Our story is unique. In just a few years we have succeeded in developing amateur-level riders into guarantors of success in the biggest races. The fact that all top performers continue to ride in our team despite WorldTour offers speaks for itself. This continuity is decisive for the fact that we have the sporting confidence to participate in the tour.", so keep thinking.
The first highlight of the season is the participation in the spring tour Tirreno – Adriatico. The Vuelta stage winner Leopold König is also supposed to get Rennhart there. "Unfortunately, I couldn't be there last year. With the individual and team time trials and the mountain finish in the Cittareale ski area, Tirreno – Adriatico suits me. With this team behind me, I'm confident that I can finish in the top 10 and maybe cause an upset early in the season.", so the Czech.
The 2014 season awaits NetApp-Endura with a thoroughly demanding racing calendar. “We will start racing at the beginning of February. The classic fraction can look forward to a packed program in spring. I hope that we ride three monuments and that we have a new classic from the WorldTour on the calendar again this year.", Denk was optimistic. The team will announce more details in the coming weeks.