In a few weeks time, NetApp-Endura will line up at their first Tour de France and this week they proved that they are ready for the challenge by animating the Tour of California. Tiago Machado confirmed his excellent condition by taking fourth overall and the team finished second in both big mountain stages.

 

The Tour of California was a great success for Germany’s highest ranked cycling team. NetApp – Endura is the only ProContinental team that is listed among the Top 10 in the GC of this years Tour of California, even with two riders. The team’s two climbers Tiago Machado, who placed second on Mount Diablo, and David de la Cruz, who placed second on Mountain High, are ranked fourth and tenth respectively in the overall classification. The team scored five further Top 10 results.

 

“The Tour of California was a really good race for us. When we came here I asked the guys to compete in the race with the best attitude. I wanted that every rider is 100% focused from the first to the last day and that they all give everything at every stage. First of all, because NetApp is from California and second, also because in only six weeks we want to start at the biggest race in the World. I am really happy and very proud of the guys how they showed that attitude. Unfortunately we didn’t get what we deserve, which is at least one stage win or the podium in the GC. But I am sure that if we keep working on the same level as now we’ll see a big win very soon”, resumes Alex Sans Vega, Sport Director of Team NetApp – Endura, the Tour of California. 

 

The final stage, starting and ending in Thousand Oaks, included three big laps of 34km each and 3 smaller finishing laps of 7km each. A group of seven riders attacked on the first 10km and formed the break away of the day. But on the second KOM the leaders attacked each other already and two riders went clear.

 

On the third round, the peloton reeled in the chasers and the two leaders were left with a gap of only one minute. At this point, Jose Mendes from NetApp – Endura attacked as he did already in the final yesterday.

 

On the descent, when approaching the finishing circuit, a big group with all favorites caught all escapees. This group of around 40 riders crossed the finish line for the first time with a gap of 1 minute to the remaining bunch.

 

On the final lap, with no more than 5km to go, all groups came back together again which led to the decision in a proper mass sprint. NetApp – Endura’s Zak Dempster once again showed his sprint skills by taking another Top10 result on rank 8.