While team captain Leo König finalized his preparations for the Tour de France at the Criterium du Dauphiné, another part of Team NetApp-Endura will make themselves ready for the race at the Tour of Slovenia. Tiago Machado will lead the team and will be surrounded by strong climbers David De La Cruz and Jose Mendes.

With the Tour of Slovenia, beginning on the coming Thursday, Team NetApp – Endura will conclude its preparations for the Tour de France. The tour leads from Slovenia's capital Ljubljana over four stages and 514.5 kilometers to Novo Mesto. A preliminary decision may be expected on the third stage, which ends with a summit finish in Trije Kralji. The tour is of particular significance for Slovenian Blaz Jarc, who will be competing in his home race for the first time as a professional.

"Actually, we are taking a top-class team to Slovenia. However, this close to the Tour de France I don't want to put too much pressure on the riders. Above all because Tiago and Jose are just back from the altitude training camp I will be planning from one day to the next, together with Alex Sans Vega, and initially just waiting to see what happens in the time trial," says Sport Director Christian Pömer, describing the tactical approach to the Tour of Slovenia. "But I think in terms of the route, the tour will suit Tiago very well and it will be hard for a full-blooded racer like him to ride steadily. Furthermore, I can also see one or two of the other stages being really good for our other guys, and Blaz will also enjoy home advantage," continues Pömer.

The opener for this year's 21st Tour of Slovenia will take the form of a short, 8.8-kilometer time trial, right in the center of Ljubljana. Like any other city street course, the route through the Slovenian capital has a few corners to negotiate. However, the centerpiece of the short battle against the clock is a straight course just under six kilometers long and only interrupted by a 180-degree turn at the half-way point. The second day's stage will offer an opportunity to fast-finishing all-rounders. The stage is basically quite flat, but one of the two climbs is just 38 kilometers before the finish, and with a length of 8 kilometers and an average gradient of 8%, it is far from easy.

On Saturday, the third and longest stage of the tour, covering 192 kilometers, takes the riders from Rogaška Slatina to Trije Kralji, where it ends with a category-one summit finish. The last section over 153 kilometers has the character of a classic. The classic specialists will particularly appreciate the final lap, with its short steep uphill section and the gently rising, cobbled home stretch.

Line-up:

Iker Camano, David De la Cruz, Zak Dempster, Blaz Jarc, Tiago Machado, José Mendes, Andreas Schillinger, Paul Voß