The ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia has also gone according to plan for Team NetApp. As expected, the race ended in a mass sprint in Frosinone after 166 kilometers, with the two Austrians, Daniel Schorn and Matthias Brändle, finishing fifth and eighth. Francisco Ventoso Alberdi (Movistar) had the fastest legs, relegating Fabio Felline (Androni-Giocattolli) and Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack-Nissan) to second and third place. The top of the general classification did not change today. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) will continue to wear the Maglia Rosa. Team NetApp's best rider, Bartosz Huzarski, is still holding on to 25th place. 

"It could have hardly gone better for us. Today the team secured its third and fourth top ten finish – that's simply fantastic! Things didn't go ideally for Daniel Schorn on the previous flat stages, but today he was able to show his potential," said Sport Director Jens Heppner, full of praise. 

Three breakaway riders initially took off 13 kilometers after the start of the race. The peloton let them have their way, but always kept the lead under control. "Today we wanted to save our energy for the anticipated sprint finish and didn't launch any attacks," Heppner explained. 300 meters before the finish line in Frosinone there was a major crash in the final curve. "Fortunately Daniel picked the right side today and was spared from the crash. Today everything was just right," the Sport Director said.

Tomorrow's 10th stage will cover the 186-kilometer stretch from Civitavecchia to Assisi. "It will be a very demanding transitional stage with lots of changes in rhythm. Sprinters won't stand a chance," Heppner said in his assessment. At the end the riders can expect a four-kilometer final climb with up to a 15% incline. 

stage 9, 14 May: San Giorgio del Sannio - Frosinone, 166 km
stage 10, 15 May: Civitavecchia - Assisi, 186 km
stage 11, 16 May: Assisi - Montecatini Terme, 255 km
stage 12, 17 May: Seravezza - Sestri Levante, 155 km
stage 13, 18 May: Savona - Cervere, 121 km
stage 14, 19 May: Cherasco - Cervinia, 206 km
stage 15, 20 May: Busto Arsizio - Lecco/Piani dei Resinelli, 169 km
stage 16, 22 May: Limone sul Garda - Falzes/Pfalzen, 173 km
stage 17, 23 May: Falzes/Pfalzen - Cortina d’Ampezzo, 186 km
stage 18, 24 May: San Vito di Cadore - Vedelago, 149 km
stage 19, 25 May: Treviso - Alpe di Pampeago/Val di Fiemme, 198 km
stage 20, 26 May: Caldes/Val di Sole - Passo dello Stelvio, 219 km
stage 21, 27 May: ITT Milano - Milano, 30.1 km

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