Team NetApp-Endura have received invitations to the Tours of Qatar and Oman which they will use to prepare for their major goals. With both races being organized by ASO, the invitations could indicate that the team is a good bet to get a birth in the world's biggest race, the Tour de France.

Team NetApp-Endura will get the chance to prepare their major targets against some of the best riders in the world as the German pro continental team has received invitations for the Tours of Qatar and Oman. Held under sunny conditions, the races in the Middle East usually attract formidable line-ups of riders looking for some quality racing.

The invitations are a major boost for NetApp-Endura who is hopeful that they will get a ride in this year's Tour de France. As both races are organized by Tour organizers ASO, it could be a sign that there may be more pleasant news coming for the team in the future.

The Tour of Qatar will take place from February 9 – 14. The six-day tour covers 715 kilometres and, in addition to a short individual time trial, only includes sprint stages on flat terrain. The team plans to send their sprinters and classics riders to the event.

"Both tours are something rather special," manager Ralph Denk said. "In Qatar almost every stage will be decided at top speed in a mass sprint. The wind is the only hurdle; otherwise it's a good start to the season under optimum conditions for our sprint and classic specialists.

"Zak Dempster, who took a win in his very first race of the season, will be in the line-up, as will our new arrival Sam Bennett," he added. "We are particularly curious about Sam, as the first race in a new team is always something special. Blaz Jarc, Andreas Schillinger, Daniel Schorn, Michael Schwarzmann, Scott Thwaites and Paul Voss are also scheduled to start."

With Dempster, Jarc, Bennett, Schorn, Schwarzmann and Thwaites, the team will have several opportunities in the expected bunch sprints where they will be up against some of the best sprinters in the world.

Most of the fast riders will not continue their racing in Oman where the hilly nature of the race will suit the team's stage race specialists. Headed by GC leader Leopold König, the stage racing contingent is looking forward to testing themselves against some of the best climbers in the world.

"Our tour riders will be starting the season in Oman," Denk said." The stages are considerably more demanding in terms of their profile. When you look at last year's podium, the quality of the field that this race traditionally enjoys becomes clear. Although we are of course travelling to Oman with high ambitions, the next important thing is to get some initial evidence of our performance under race conditions.

"The team will be led by Leo König," he added. Cesare Benedetti, David de la Cruz, Bartosz Huzarski und Frantisek Padour complete the line-up of climbers. Zak Dempster, Sam Bennett and Andreas Schillinger will be coming from Qatar to Oman to fight for results in the sprint stages."

The Tour of Oman will be held from February 18 – 23. The slightly hilly stages and the summit finish on Green Mountain will be the decisive factors. There will also be two flat stages, in which a mass sprint finish can be expected.