Team NetApp-Endura also best Wildcard team in concluding time trial
The last stage of the Rundfahrt Tirreno - Adriatico was a short time trial over 9.2 kilometers in San Benedetto del Tronto. The race against the clock on the Italian Adriatic coast was won by time trial world champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) ahead of Adriano Malori (Lampre – Merida) and Andrey Amador (Movistar). Jan Barta of Team NetApp – Endura came in 31 seconds behind in 19th place. Just as in the team time trials in the first stage, the team proved its time trial strength today as well and was the highest-ranked wildcard team.
“The time trial by Jan is perfectly fine, even if he expected better of himself. Today’s course wasn’t really his thing. He prefers courses that are more demanding and somewhat hillier,” said Enrico Poitschke after the stage.
“We can be quite satisfied with our first World Tour race of the season. We had decent time trials, wore the mountain jersey and are represented by two riders in the Top 25 of the overall standings. Given the group at the starting line, that is a respectable outcome for us. The formal structure is correct and if the boys stay healthy, good results are to be expected during the coming tours, too. In a week we start with Coppi e Bartali – a race which was very important for us last year,” summarized Poitschke.
1. Stage: San Vincenzo – Donoratico 16,9km – TTT
2. Stage: San Vincenzo – Indicatore 232km
3. Stage: Indicatore – Narni Scalo 190km
4. Stage: Narni – Prati di Tivo 173km
5. Stage: Ortona – Chieti 230km
6. Stage: Porto Sant’Elpidio – Porto Sant’Elpidio 209km
7. Stage: San Benedetto del Tronto – San Benedetto del Tronto 9,2 – ITT