Team NetApp-Endura went into today's second stage of the Tour de Slovenie with a two-pronged plan. While they failed to win the stage with Paul Voss, Tiago Machado remained in fourth overall and the team even took over the lead in the teams classification.

The second stage of the Tour de Slovénie covered 160 kilometers from Ribnica to Kocevje. As expected, the last climb before the finish broke up the field, resulting in a group sprinting to the finish for the win of the day. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani – CSF) managed to beat out yesterday’s winner Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) and local favorite Grega Bole (Vini Fantini Nippo). Paul Voss sprinted into 10th place. Owing to its excellent tactical performance, NetApp – Endura now has three riders in the top 10 of the general classification. Tiago Machado is in fourth place, just 11 seconds behind the leader. Paul Voss and David de la Cruz are in eighth and tenth place, respectively.

“Paul did an outstanding job climbing up the last mountain, carrying out our plans very well. Unfortunately, during the final sprint he fell short of a top result, which had been our goal today. Tiago and David, our riders with sights on the overall standings, didn’t lose any time because they crossed the finish with the lead group. As a result, we are now in a very good position for tomorrow’s queen stage. The final climb is long but not very steep, resembling of the final part of the Criterium International. Perhaps Tiago will manage to come up with a similar result," said Christian Pömer, Sport Director for Team NetApp – Endura. 

Initially, the stage was marked by a four-man breakaway group that pulled away on the first climb. The peloton let them build up a maximum lead of four minutes before arriving at the second climb, which turned out to be a preliminary decision for the stage. After intensifying the pace, which was set by Team NetApp – Endura as well, the field dispersed and the breakaway riders were caught on the ascent. A group of 36 riders put some distance behind them and rode out ahead of the peloton for the last 30 kilometers all the way to the finish. Team NetApp – Endura had three riders in that decisive group. 

The third and penultimate stage of the tour is the queen stage at this year's Tour de Slovénie. The 192-kilometer route will take the riders from Rogaska Slatina to Trije Kralji. Once the three climbs (categories 2 and 3) are completed, the final 20-kilometer ascent will prove decisive in terms of the tour’s outcome.