Team NetApp’s Jan Barta finished today’s 45.7-km time trial from Heerlen to Valkenburg in an outstanding seventh place. In doing so, he left many national champions in his wake and became the only ProContinental rider to have finished among the top ten riders in the world. German rider Tony Martin (Omega Pharma - Quick Step) defended his world champion title and will wear the rainbow jersey for another season. 

“It was a very difficult time trial: a lot of curves and constantly up and down. It’s a pity that just when it got to be my turn it started to rain and the conditions became worse. But that’s something you can’t influence. I’m very satisfied with my performance, that’s the most important thing,” says Jan Barta after his good race.

Next Sunday, Team NetApp riders Jan Barta, Leo Koenig, Matthias Brändle and Daniel Schorn will be competing at the World Championship Road Race for the Czech Republic and Austria. The course begins in Maastricht, covers 100 kilometers and then finishes in Valkenburg after taking ten laps around a 16.5-km circuit. The finish line is on the Cauberg hill, familiar from the classic Amstel Gold Race. Seven climbs with inclines of between 4 and 8% await the riders, which means we can expect a sprint to the finish by either a small group or individual riders.

 

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