NetApp-Endura will have a record number of participants at the World Championships. Their best medal chance comes in tomorrow's time trial where Jan Barta is a strong outsider.

As already reported, the NetApp – Endura team will be sending a record number of riders to Ponferrada to participate in this year’s UCI World Championships. In the highlight of the championship races, the 255 kilometer men’s road race taking place this coming Sunday, five NetApp – Endura professionals in all will be representing their home countries. Jan Barta is likely to have the best chance of a top finish at tomorrow’s time trial. After his third place in the time trials at the Tour de France, the Czech champion is more than just a dangerous outsider on the 47.1 kilometer circuit.

The start of the 47.1 kilometer race against the clock will be taking place right in the center of Ponferrada. The first 30 kilometers of the circuit are flat with the final part of the course somewhat hillier whereby the total altitude covered is 458 meters. Apart from the topographical challenges, what also needs to be mastered well is the technically demanding slope down toward the finish. In addition to Jan Barta, there will be a second NetApp – Endura rider starting the race,Tiago Machado. Both have performed impressively on several time trials this year.

The traditional highlight of the UCI world championship week is the men’s road race. This will be taking place on Sunday 28.09 and cover 14 laps of the course each measuring 14.2 kilometers. Despite the fact that the race over a total distance of 254.8 kilometers covers an overall altitude of 4,284 meters, the course is not considered to be all that difficult. The Bárcena climb should be manageable for mountain-hardened sprinters too so that an open and highly exciting race can be expected. Seen from a NetApp – Endura perspective, José Mendes, Bartosz Huzarski, Paul Voss and stagiare (trainee) Patrick Konrad will be taking part in the road race alongside Machado and Barta.