The 95th running of the Giro D' Italia ended with the individual time trials in Milan today, and with it the first Grand Tour for Team NetApp. The result for the German wildcard winner is outstanding: Two podium spots and a total of eight Top 10 rankings went to Team NetApp. 

On the last day of the Giro d' Italia Bartosz Huzarski ended in a respectable 46th place. The race against the clock was won by Marco Pinotti (Team BM), ahead of Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) and Jesse Sergent (Radioshack Nissan). Ryder Hesjedal (Team Garmin) is therefore the overall winner of the Italian Tour, Jan Barta is in 65 place the best-placed Team NetApp rider, closely followed by Bartosz Huzarski with rank 70.

As expected, Team NetApp was unable to obtain a decisive position in the final time trials. “It was very important to us to end the tour with as many riders as possible. Unfortunately Reto Hollenstein had to withdraw during the 13th stage, after he broke his clavicle in a fall. Timon Seubert could not finish yesterday’s mountain stage due to a fever. So we reached Milan with seven riders. It was the first three-week stage race for most, and I am very proud that they fought so hard through the final very difficult mountain stages,” said Team Manager Ralph Denk.

„The team far exceeded the team management’s expectations. Our goal was to come in among the top ten in at least one stage. And now we have stood on the podium twice. The teamwork could not have been better and each individual rider had his own taste of success. As a ProContinental Team, the Giro d’Italia posed a huge challenge for us athletically and logistically, which our riders and employees mastered with flying colors,” said Ralph Denk of the positive result throughout. 

During the entire tour Team NetApp convinced with their active cycling style and was outstandingly represented in breakaway groups. “It was clear to us from the outset that we wouldn’t be able to achieve much in the overall ranking without Leopold König; we therefore concentrated on individual stages. The team was out in front and attacked so often so that we were able to hold our own against the big teams. The two second places for Bartosz Huzarski and Jan Barta in the 10th and 14th stages were the well-earned reward for the team,” continued Denk. 

stage 21, 27 May: ITT Milano - Milano, 30.1 km

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