News: NetApp – Endura Gets Tour Invite for Le Tour

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Scottish/German team, Netapp-Endura has been given a wildcard invite to the biggest bike race in the world, the Tour de France.

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The team, which has Yorkshire rider Scott Thwaites (below) in its squad, will be lining up in Yorkshire for its first start in the Tour de France. “For me, the prospect of being a Yorkshire rider racing in the Tour de France in my own county is a once in a lifetime opportunity” says Scott Thwaites to the Telegraph & Argus newspaper.

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This year’s edition starts in Leeds in the UK before travelling around Yorkshire and then Cambridgeshire before onto France and finishing the rets of the 3,656 kilometres to Paris.

For Thwaites, and fellow Brits Erick Rowsell and Jonny McEvoy, the incentive to work hard to be in that squad could not be higher. As one rider told VeloUK, if they are good enough, they should should be selected on merit and we can only hope that the team do indeed give them that opportunity.

“It is up to me to work hard and earn my place in the team” Scott Thwaites explains. “It is something I have dreamed of. I would love to be the home rider being cheered on by a Yorkshire crowd.”

Ralph Denk, Team Manager of Team NetApp – Endura says “It’s a dream comes true. We have worked towards this news since the first day of the team’s founding. That our wish has now become reality is overwhelming, will put the whole team into a euphoric mood. We could not have hoped for better news shortly before our season opening.”

“My thanks go to the ASO. We will certainly reciprocate the great trust that is being put in us with this invitation with a very committed appearance. It is a great advantage for us that we have already been informed about the decision now. We can thus gear the entire first half of the season towards this big event and start in Leeds in top form with the best riders,” Denk continued.

“I would also like to thank our sponsors and partners who have supported us on this path. The Tour de France is one of the largest sports events in the World and I am pleased to be able to offer them this opportunity,” Denk concluded.

In addition to the participation in the Tour de France (July 5 – 27), the team was also invited for the Critérium du Dauphiné (June 8 – 15). This means NetApp – Endura can already count on five wildcard invitations for WorldTour races before the start of the season.

For Team NetApp – Endura, the invitation to the Tour de France is already the third Grand Tour in which the young team will be competing. After a successful appearance at the Giro d’Italia 2012, the team was convincing at the Vuelta a Espana last year, with a stage win and a placement among the Top 10 in the general classification.

TOUR de FRANCE SELECTIONS

In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale rules, the following eighteen ProTeams are automatically invited to the three races:

AG2R La Mondiale (Fra)
Astana Pro Team (Kaz)
Belkin Pro Cycling Team (Ned)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Cannondale (Ita)
FDJ.fr (Fra)
Garmin Sharp (USA)
Lampre-Merida (Ita)
Lotto Belisol (Bel)
Movistar Team (Esp)
Omega Pharma – Quick Step Cycling Team (Bel)
Orica – GreenEDGE (Aus)
Team Europcar (Fra)
Team Giant – Shimano (Ned)
Team Katusha (Rus)
Team Sky (Gbr)
Tinkoff Saxo (Rus)
Trek Factory Racing (USA)

In addition to these eighteen teams, the organisers have awarded the following wildcards:

PARIS-NICE
Bretagne – Séché Environnement (Fra)
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (Fra)
IAM Cycling (Sui)

CRITÉRIUM DU DAUPHINÉ
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (Fra)
IAM Cycling (Sui)
Team NetApp – Endura (Ger)

TOUR DE FRANCE
Bretagne – Séché Environnement (Fra)
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (Fra)
IAM Cycling (Sui)
Team NetApp – Endura (Ger)

Tour de France Stages
Stage 1 191 km Leeds / Harrogate
Stage 2 198 km York / Sheffield
Stage 3 159 km Cambridge / London

Stage 4 164 km Le Touquet-Paris-Plage / Lille
Stage 5 156 km Ypres / Arenberg Porte du Hainaut
Stage 6 194 km Arras / Reims
Stage 7 233 km Epernay / Nancy
Stage 8 161 km Tomblaine / Gerardmer The Mauselaine
Stage 9 166 km Gerardmer / Mulhouse
Stage 10 161 km Mulhouse / La Planche des Belles Filles

Rest Besançon

Stage 11 186 km Besançon / Oyonnax
Stage 12 183 km Bourg-en-Bresse / Saint-Étienne
Stage 13 200 km Saint-Étienne / Chamrousse
Stage 14 177 km Grenoble / Risoul
Stage 15 222 km Tallard / Nîmes

Rest Carcassonne

Stage 16 237 km Carcassonne / Bagneres-de-Luchon
Stage 17 125 km Saint-Gaudens / Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet
Stage 18 145 km Pau / Hautacam
Stage 19 208 km Maubourguet Country Val d’Adour / Bergerac
20 Stage 54 km Bergerac / Périgueux
Stage 21 136 km Evry / Paris Champs-Élysées

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