VUELTA: Grand Tour Stage win for Endura

2013_Endura_StoryBanner_April

Scotland’s Endura had their biggest success yet in road racing with a stage win to Leopold ‘King’ Konig whilst ‘nice guy’ Nicholas Roche took the leader’s red jersey on the mountain top finish of stage in the Vuelta

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With his stage win, Koenig went up to 5th place in the general classification. “This is for sure incredible and I am more than happy. I told the team this morning that I want to win this stage and asked for the support of the whole team.”

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A momumental victory for Konig and also for Scotland’s Endura who saw their brand name in slow motion on TV’s all over the world. Photo: NetApp-Endura/Roth

“The guys were amazing. They had to stand up against the whole peloton and we did it. I am proud that we realized the victory together. That was so important for us. Now everyone realizes that we are able to play our cards.”

“Leaving today’s victory behind me, I will focus on this tough stage tomorrow because it is a new opportunity and we are here to take all opportunities. I want to repay the team for its great work and of course the Vuelta organization for trusting us with a wildcard.”

Ralph Denk, Team Manager added : “We seriously prepared for this highlight of the season and invested in training camps and inspections of the climbs. That paid off today. Our goal was a stage win and Leo attempted it on the second day and just fell short. Now we can ride with ease. Everything that happens now is an encore for our guys.”

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Netapp-Endura’s Konig celebrates on the podium his biggest win to date and the same for his team – Photo: www.lavuelta.com 

Enrico Poitschke; Sports Director explained the team’s tactics saying “We just couldn’t sit back and take it when Bartosz was forced to fall behind from the breakaway group. That’s why we decided ‘Now we’re really going for it.’”

“We started the race today with a clear goal and wanted to make it reality. That’s why we put everything into the chase and were rewarded for it in the end. We did everything right.”

A large breakaway group, which initially included Bartosz Huzarski, set the tone of the 167-kilometre stage up until the foot of the final climb. Since Huzarski was the best-ranked rider in this group, pressure from several teams forced him to drop back to the field.”

“NetApp-Endura then took over the chase at the front of the field and chipped away at the breakaway riders’ lead. Despite this energy-sapping work, the team’s climbing specialists were able to get into a good position on the mountain.”

A few kilometres up the slope, the group of favourites was getting smaller and with five kilometres from the top, the last of the escapees were swept up. Shortly after, Igor Anton (Euskatel) launched an attack from the front group.

The race was getting very tasty now as the GC riders and climbers after a stage win went head to head. Under a mile to the finish line, a handful of riders leapt away to chase the Euskatel rider and Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Nicolas Roche was in the mix along with Netapp-Endura’s Konig.

They bridged the gap to Anton but the drag race to the finish line saw the GC contenders spread out over the mountain and it was Konig, 14th overall prior to the stage who climbed the better, finishing a second clear of another stage winner Moreno with new race leader Nicolas Roche in third five seconds back from the Endura sponsored rider.

One of the big losers was Nibali who finished 27 seconds back but such time gaps with so much climbing to come are insignificant in a race with so many summit finishes.
One rider who gave absolutely every drop of energy to realize his dream was Nicholas Roche who hung onto Basso’s rear wheel, teeth gritted, until the line where he not only had bonus seconds to help him into the Red jersey but also a bigger gap than expected on the likes of Nibali.

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Netapp-Endura put their team on the front and set up the finale for Konig – Photo: www.lavuelta.com 

“Man, this is a dream come true” said Roche. “Surely, I was digging deep on the final few kilometres of the stage but I had the jersey in sight and decided to open up and see if I could get it and here I am.”

“It’s been an amazing week for me and I know there’s a very long way to Madrid and it would be optimistic for me to say that I can defend it from now on. The team has been supporting me so far and I know they are a 100% behind me. I’ll take one stage at a time and now I’ll be focusing on defending the lead on tomorrow’s stage,” said Saxo-Tinkoff’s Nicolas Roche.

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Nicholas Roche in Red – Photo: www.lavuelta.com 

Chris Horners stays in second
Despite Nibali losing time to Chris Horner (Radioshack-Leopard-Trek), the veteran American stayed second overall as Roche took time on them both. After the stage, Horner said “The climb wasn’t quite steep enough and Nibali was watching my wheel real close.”

“Every time I attacked, he followed. Then of course Roche put in a great attack. It seems like he and I are the ones who trade off on getting a little bit of freedom every few days. Maybe my turn is next. I just couldn’t get the gap after I tried at 3km to go. When Nibali went, it took me a bit to get back to him, but then he ran out of steam and I wasn’t going to chase Roche down. It was another beautiful stage, the course was very nice and reminded me of Southern California where I live.”

“The last climb was hard and I’m sure it made good action for the fans on the road and those watching on TV.”

Stage 8
1 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 04:09:46
2 MORENO FERNáNDEZ Daniel Katusha Team 00:01
3 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:05
4 PINOT Thibaut Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
5 BASSO Ivan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
6 DE CLERCQ Bart Lotto Belisol Team 00:08
7 ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor Euskaltel – Euskadi 00:13
8 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 00:19
9 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team @ st
10 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 00:23
11 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard @ st
12 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
13 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale @ st
14 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack – Leopard @ st
15 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 00:27
16 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team @ st
17 BARGUIL Warren Team Argos – Shimano 00:31
18 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team 00:40
19 BAGOT Yohan Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
20 ARROYO DURAN David Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
21 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
22 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team @ st
23 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida 00:57
24 NERZ Dominik BMC Racing Team @ st
25 TEN DAM Laurens Belkin Pro Cycling Team 00:59
26 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David Team NetApp – Endura @ st
27 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team @ st
28 HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team @ st
29 GENIEZ Alexandre Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 01:39
30 BRAJKOVIč Janez Astana Pro Team @ st
31 CARDOSO André Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 01:54
32 PIMENTA COSTA MENDES José João Team NetApp – Endura 02:05
33 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard 02:14
34 SORENSEN Chris Anker Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
35 MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin Pro Cycling Team 02:33
36 ELISSONDE Kenny Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
37 CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team 02:37
38 PAUWELS Serge Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 02:46
39 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis Solutions Crédits 02:55
40 NIEVE ITURALDE Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi 03:03
41 MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale @ st
42 SERRY Pieter Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 03:55
43 TXURRUKA Amets Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
44 MARCZYNSKI Tomasz Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
45 DE GREEF Francis Lotto Belisol Team 04:03
46 MORENO BAZAN Javier Movistar Team 04:37
47 KREUZIGER Roman Team Saxo-Tinkoff 05:27
48 ZAUGG Oliver Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
49 COPPEL Jérome Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
50 BUSCHE Matthew RadioShack – Leopard 05:40
51 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura 06:23
52 VALLS FERRI Rafael Vacansoleil – DCM 06:29
53 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 07:04
54 CATALDO Dario Sky Procycling 07:45
55 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi 07:51
56 VELASCO MURILLO Ivan Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
57 LANDA MEANA Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
58 SARMIENTO TUNARROSA Jose Cayetano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
59 GUSEV Vladimir Katusha Team 08:16
60 TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team 08:19
61 FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team 09:02
62 DE GENDT Thomas Vacansoleil – DCM 11:04
63 EIJSSEN Yannick BMC Racing Team @ st
64 DE WEERT Kevin Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 11:15
65 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi Euskaltel – Euskadi 12:13
66 VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI Gorka Euskaltel – Euskadi 12:14
67 LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto Katusha Team @ st
68 NOCENTINI Rinaldo AG2R La Mondiale @ st
69 PREIDLER Georg Team Argos – Shimano @ st
70 GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale @ st
71 HUPOND Thierry Team Argos – Shimano @ st
72 VICIOSO ARCOS Ángel Katusha Team @ st
73 BERARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale @ st
74 WURF Cameron Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
75 HOWES Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
76 KIRYIENKA Vasil Sky Procycling @ st
77 SZMYD Sylwester Movistar Team @ st
78 CANCELLARA Fabian RadioShack – Leopard 12:39
79 CHAINEL Steve AG2R La Mondiale 13:25
80 VANSUMMEREN Johan Garmin – Sharp @ st
81 VANENDERT Dennis Lotto Belisol Team @ st
82 HERMANS Ben RadioShack – Leopard @ st
83 CLEMENT Stef Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
84 GARATE Juan Manuel Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
85 VANDEWALLE Kristof Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
86 MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE @ st
87 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Lampre – Merida @ st
88 PINEAU Cédric Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
89 DODI Luca Lampre – Merida @ st
90 CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker Team NetApp – Endura @ st
91 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald Sky Procycling @ st
92 VAN DE WALLE Jurgen Lotto Belisol Team @ st
93 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team @ st
94 SOUPE Geoffrey Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
95 FERRARI Fabricio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
96 ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier Sky Procycling @ st
97 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
98 VEIKKANEN Jussi Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
99 POPOVYCH Yaroslav RadioShack – Leopard @ st
100 FROHLINGER Johannes Team Argos – Shimano @ st
101 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team @ st
102 RAST Gregory RadioShack – Leopard @ st
103 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team @ st
104 STORTONI Simone Lampre – Merida 14:02
105 ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida 14:18
106 MORI Manuele Lampre – Merida @ st
107 PUCCIO Salvatore Sky Procycling 15:11
108 KNEES Christian Sky Procycling @ st
109 GARCIA FERNANDEZ Marcos Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
110 PIEDRA PEREZ Antonio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
111 BROWN Graeme Belkin Pro Cycling Team 18:53
112 CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE @ st
113 IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel RadioShack – Leopard @ st
114 ROWE Luke Sky Procycling @ st
115 ZEITS Andrey Astana Pro Team @ st
116 FARRAR Tyler Garmin – Sharp @ st
117 ERVITI OLLO Imanol Movistar Team @ st
118 OROZ UGALDE Juan Jos̩ Euskaltel РEuskadi @ st
119 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo Movistar Team @ st
120 HENDERSON Gregory Lotto Belisol Team @ st
121 GUTIERREZ PALACIOS Jose Iván Movistar Team @ st
122 MONDORY Lloyd AG2R La Mondiale @ st
123 REYNES MIMO Vicente Lotto Belisol Team @ st
124 BARTA Jan Team NetApp – Endura @ st
125 GERRANS Simon Orica GreenEDGE @ st
126 COOKE Baden Orica GreenEDGE @ st
127 STAMSNIJDER Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
128 VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura @ st
129 WAGNER Robert Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
130 SINKELDAM Ramon Team Argos – Shimano @ st
131 WESTRA Lieuwe Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
132 LODEWYCK Klaas BMC Racing Team @ st
133 BEWLEY Sam Orica GreenEDGE @ st
134 KOHLER Martin BMC Racing Team @ st
135 PINOTTI Marco BMC Racing Team @ st
136 KOZONTCHUK Dmitry Katusha Team @ st
137 POULHIES Stéphane Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
138 LANDER Sebastian BMC Racing Team @ st
139 LONGO BORGHINI Paolo Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
140 PATERSKI Maciej Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
141 ARAMENDIA LORENTE Javier Francisco Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
142 DEMPSTER Zakkari Team NetApp – Endura @ st
143 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt Team Argos – Shimano @ st
144 SIJMENS Nico Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
145 RASMUSSEN Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
146 MANGEL Laurent Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
147 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale @ st
148 HOOGERLAND Johnny Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
149 ZINGLE Romain Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
150 COURTEILLE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
151 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team @ st
152 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
153 BESSY Cyril Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
154 HAEDO Lucas Sebastian Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
155 EDET Nicolas Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
156 POELS Wout Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
157 LASCA Francesco Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
158 GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team @ st
159 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
160 RATTO Daniele Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
161 KREDER Michel Garmin – Sharp @ st
162 CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale @ st
163 MEERSMAN Gianni Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
164 MARKUS Barry Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
165 PETIT Adrien Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
166 VAN DER SANDE Tosh Lotto Belisol Team @ st
167 TANNER David Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
168 FAIRLY Caleb Garmin – Sharp @ st
169 HOWARD Leigh Orica GreenEDGE @ st
170 DOCKER Mitchell Orica GreenEDGE @ st
171 BOIVIN Guillaume Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
172 TOSATTO Matteo Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
173 ISAYCHEV Vladimir Katusha Team @ st
174 PETROV Evgeni Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
175 VANENDERT Jelle Lotto Belisol Team @ st
176 NUYENS Nick Garmin – Sharp @ st
177 DALL’ANTONIA Tiziano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
178 IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team @ st
179 SøRENSEN Nicki Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
180 MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE @ st
181 MøRKøV Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
182 MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
183 STYBAR Zdenek Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
184 URTASUN PEREZ Pablo Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
185 PETERSON Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
186 FENN Andrew Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
187 PAOLINI Luca Katusha Team 20:59
188 VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team @ st
189 SCHORN Daniel Team NetApp – Endura 22:21
190 BOLE Grega Vacansoleil – DCM 22:29
191 GRAZIATO Massimo Lampre – Merida 22:33
192 BONO Matteo Lampre – Merida 23:40
193 RICHEZE Ariel Maximiliano Lampre – Merida @ st
194 ARNDT Nikias Team Argos – Shimano 26:02:00
DNS MARTIN Daniel Garmin – Sharp –

OVERALL
1 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 31:39:30
2 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard 00:17
3 MORENO FERNáNDEZ Daniel Katusha Team @ st
4 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 00:18
5 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 00:29
6 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack – Leopard 00:30
7 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 00:31
8 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 00:42
9 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:52
10 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team 01:03
11 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team 01:17
12 BASSO Ivan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 01:28
13 PINOT Thibaut Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 01:37
14 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team 01:42
15 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 01:59
16 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team 02:01
17 TEN DAM Laurens Belkin Pro Cycling Team 02:02
18 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida 02:03
19 DE CLERCQ Bart Lotto Belisol Team 02:22
20 BARGUIL Warren Team Argos – Shimano 02:25

 

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