For the coming season, Team NetApp – Endura has signed Spanish tour talent David de la Cruz (Caja Rural, Professional Continental, Spain), the experienced Portuguese all-rounder José Mendes (LA Aluminios – Antarte, Continental, Portugal) and the up-and-coming German sprinter Ralf Matzka (Thüringer Energie Team, Continental, Germany).

“We were trying very hard to recruit David de la Cruz. Although he has only been racing for five years, he demonstrated his great talent this year. He placed second at the Vuelta a Asturias and in the top five at Castilla y Leon and the Tour of Portugal, so he will be a perfect addition to our squad. Our team already had a very solid lineup for tours, and now with David it’s even better,” says Team Manager Ralph Denk. 

“With José Mendes we’re adding an experienced all-rounder to the team who can deliver good results but who will primarily support the team,” Denk adds.

“Ralf Matzka will strengthen us in terms of sprints. We have a very strong team in place for next year that will be able to set the pace on the run in to stage finishes and set our sprinters up to take the win in bunch sprints. Ralf demonstrated his explosive qualities in the U23, and this year he made our life difficult during a couple of stages. He has therefore earned the chance to prove his talent with the pros,” says Ralph Denk, introducing the new German recruit.

Now that it has 20 riders, Team NetApp – Endura has completed its preliminary squad planning for the 2013 season. “We’re in the comfortable position of having assembled our dream team early on. If an interesting option arises in the next couple of weeks, we will of course take a look at it – but without any pressure at all,” explains Denk.

 

Team NetApp – Endura 2013 (Status 27 September):

Jan Barta (27, CZE), Cesare Benedetti (25, ITA), Iker Camano Ortuzar (33, ESP), David de la Cruz (23, ESP), Zakkari Dempster (24, AUS), Russell Downing (34, GBR), Markus Eichler (30, GER), Bartosz Huzarski (31, POL), Blaz Jarc (24, SLO), Leopold Koenig (24, CZE), Ralf Matzka (23, GER), Jonathan McEvoy (23, GBR), José Mendes (27, POR), Erick Rowsell (22, GBR), Andreas Schillinger (29, GER), Daniel Schorn (23, AUT), Michael Schwarzmann (21, GER), Scott Thwaites (22, GBR), Paul Voss (26, GER), Alexander Wetterhall (26, SWE)