Having made its Grand Tour debut in the Giro d’Italia last season and picking up second places on stages via Bartosz Huzarski and Jan Barta, the NetApp-Endura team is pushing for another invite to a three week Tour in 2013.
The German squad has made clear the importance of continuing to develop and, boosted by the addition of riders, the title sponsor and management from the 2012 Endura squad, it has been successful thus far in the wildcards it has sought.
“The first months of the year are important for laying the foundations for the rest of the season,” said general manager Ralph Denk today. “We were invited to all the races in January and February that we were hoping for. This represents a perfect start.
“But the biggest challenge is still ahead of us. Our stated goal for 2013 is to also compete in a Grand Tour. Our talks with all organizers are proceeding well and we are looking forward to the first decisions. At any rate, the current races will enable us to prepare optimally.”
The team will begin racing in seventeen days time, lining out in the Tour de San Luis in Argentina from January 20th until 27th.
Next up will be the Tour of Qatar, from February 3rd until 8th, then the Tour of Oman (February 11th to 16th). Both of those races are run by Tour de France organisers ASO and the team will aim for a strong showing there in order to advance its case for what it hopes would be its first-ever start in the Tour.
The fourth confirmed race selection is in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which will take place on February 23rd and marks the beginning of NetApp-Endura’s Classics season.