Team News: Team NetApp – Endura Merge

Germany’s Team NetApp and Britain’s Endura Racing merge for 2013/14 – Eight from Endura Racing to ride for the new team

The highest ranked German professional cycling team, Team NetApp, will be racing under the name “Team NetApp – Endura” starting the coming season. The main sponsor NetApp, a leading provider of innovative storage and data management solutions, has extended its commitment through to the end of 2014. The new co-sponsor, Endura, a British cycle clothing brand, has also signed up with the Pro Continental team for the coming two years. There have also been changes to the team’s racing bike supplier with Team NetApp – Endura riding bikes made by Fuji which is owned by the American company Advanced Sports.

The successful core of the team remains unchanged: German license and riders that have ridden for Team NetApp since it was set up or have been mainstays during the current season. They will be united with eight (half of the current team) riders from Endura Racing who will become members of “Team NetApp – Endura”. Together, with further new appointments, the squad will then comprise 20 riders. The Team’s management and sport direction will be strengthened too, with support staff from both teams involved in Team NetApp – Endura for 2013.

“We have undergone a sporting development that is virtually unprecedented. In three years we have managed to develop young riders into significant performers at the Giro d’Italia. With ten victories so far, the Team races its best season ever. I am delighted that NetApp continues to support this”, said Ralph Denk, Team Manager of Team NetApp.

“We are excited to extend our commitment to Team NetApp – Endura through 2014 and to expand the visibility of the sponsorship worldwide as we activate our involvement in North America and Asia-Pacific in addition to EMEA”, said Amy Love, vice president of Brand and Communications at NetApp. “The team’s success over the past three years, and the ways our customers and channel partners engaged with the cycling community serve as key reasons for our sponsorship expansion. The Team NetApp – Endura professional cycling team is an outstanding platform to express how NetApp enables our partners and clients businesses to go further, faster.”

“That we have been able to resign NetApp and secure Endura as a key new partner is a milestone in the history of our team. NetApp’s commitment to the team’s success has been fundamental to our achievements and bringing Endura onboard as an ambitious brand that deserves to be presented at the most important races in the world. I am convinced that together we will be even more successful“, Denk continued.

“Our Continental Team, Endura Racing, is now one of the top ranked teams in the European Tour and this progress is the product of continuous commitment and hard work. Team NetApp and Endura Racing share the same ambition of progressing to the highest levels of sporting success and our commitment to Team NetApp – Endura means that we will be present at some of the biggest races on the planet. Perhaps more importantly, we will be giving some of our existing riders the chance to ride at the highest level whilst continuing to work with them, and the whole team, on product development and testing”, said Jim McFarlane, Director of Endura Ltd