Anglo-German ProConti team “delighted” with invitations to Tirreno-Adriatico and il Lombardia
NetApp-Endura was not one of the three teams to receive wildcard invitations to this year’s Giro d’Italia, as announced by RCS Sport today, despite what the team referred to as an “outstanding presence” in the 2012 edition. The team rode in 2012 as Team NetApp, coming close to a stage victory through both Jan Barta and Bartosz Huzarski (pictured) but, despite the best of its roster merging with that of Endura Racing in 2013, RCS Sport favoured Italian teams Bardiani-CSF Inox and Vini Fantini-Selle Italia - both of whom also rode in 2012 - as well as South American Team Colombia.
“After our outstanding presence in 2012, we would have liked to have challenged for a stage victory this year,” said NetApp-Endura manager Ralph Denk. But we understand that these decisions are incredibly complex for race organisers and thus take them in a sporting manner.”
According to a picture posted on Twitter by Stefano Diciatteo, media relations at RCS Sport, showing the organisation’s Wild Card Cycling Commission, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia received five votes, Colombia received four votes, Bardiani-CSF Inox three, NetApp-Endura two, and Russian team Katusha only one. This meant that NetApp-Endura was just one vote away from receiving an invitation to the race.
No doubt thanks to this near-miss, NetApp-Endura has been granted wildcards to two of RCS Sport’s other three WorldTour races, and will be on the start lines of the week-long Tirreno-Adriatico and one-day Monument il Lombardia for the first time.
“We are delighted to be able to take part in these Italian races for the first time,” said Denk. “Both races are important milestones for us in spring and fall.”