The top-class German cycling team has extended contracts with nine of its current Team NetApp riders. As a result, riders who have been members of the team since its founding in 2010 and riders who have developed into top performers will be competing for “Team NetApp – Endura” as well.

Leopold Koenig (24, CZE), Bartosz Huzarski (31, POL), Jan Barta (27, CZE) and Daniel Schorn (23, AUT) will be riding for Team NetApp – Endura in 2013.

“I’m proud that we were able to get the top performers to commit to the team. We’ve often had to compete with WorldTour teams when negotiating with riders of this quality. It worked out only because the successful core of the team will continue to ride together and we’re offering exciting perspectives, especially in terms of the racing calendar,” says Ralph Denk, Team Manager for Team NetApp.

Blaz Jarc (24, SLO), Cesare Benedetti (25, ITA), Andreas Schillinger (29, GER), Markus Eichler (30, GER) and Michael Schwarzmann (21, GER) will continue to ride for Team NetApp – Endura.

“These riders play an important part in the team’s success. On the one hand, their supporting roles are essential for the results that end up on the books. On the other hand, we give them the freedom to come up with results themselves. And I have to say they’ve been successful at doing that when I recall Benedetti’s leader’s jersey at the Coppi e Bartali, Schillinger’s performance at the Tour of Flanders, Jarc’s third-place finish during the final stage of the Tour of Austria or Schwarzmann’s best young rider’s jersey at the Tour of Bavaria,” adds Denk.

Eight riders from the Continental team Endura Racing will join the nine Team NetApp pros on the “Team NetApp – Endura” team. Together with further new signings, the squad will then comprise at least 20 riders.