Team NetApp-Endura will be without their leader Leopold König in the Tirreno-Adriatico which kicks off later today with a team time trial. Instead, the team will be led by Tiago Machado on the climbs and Sam Bennett in the sprints.

Team NetApp-Endura team can rejoice in a wildcard spot for the historic Italian Tirreno-Adriatico tour for the second year in a row after already having received one in 2013. The 49th edition of the “Race of the Two Seas” will kick off on March 12 with a 19-kilometer team time trial in Tuscany.   The route, which will cover a total of 1,019 kilometers, will then take the riders through seven stages from the Tyrrhenian Sea through Abruzzi to the Adriatic coast. Before the race comes to an end with a short time trial on March 18, riders will have to complete three sprint and two mountain stages.

“In terms of our lineup for the demanding ‘Race of the Two Seas’, we have made every effort to put our strongest riders on the starting line. Unfortunately we will have to do without our captain, Leo König. Knee problems kept him from being able to complete the required training sessions. His next race will be the Critérium International. It’s really a shame since we were hoping he would do well here following his performace at the Tour of Oman,” said Enrico Poitschke, reporting from Donoratico.

“Tiago Machado, who in his last race already proved that he is a rider to be reckoned with, will take Leo’s place. He has shown that he is in good shape. Now he has to back that up. For the three flat to undulating stages, we also have our talented sprinter Sam Bennett, who has also shown what he is capable of. We are also prepared for tomorrow’s team time trial. We did well in it last year. Now we naturally want to improve. Even without Leo and Jan Barta, our team is ready,” Enrico Poitschke added.

The first chance to show off the team’s strength comes right at the beginning of the tour, which kicks off with a 19-km team trial in the province of Livorno.

The subsequent, relatively flat section should belong to the sprinters. The third stage, starting in Cascina, is also classified as a sprinting stage. The final circuit in Arezzo, however, has a climb that riders must conquer four times and is certain to affect the outcome of the stage.

The queen stage on the fourth day ends after 244 kilometers with a difficult summit finish in the village of Cittareale, 1,535 meters above sea level, a clear opportunity for the climbers. The fifth stage will also suit those riders who thrive in the mountains. Before facing the treacherous wall of Guardiagrele, riders must first make it over the 1,300-meter Passo Lanciano.

Then the sprinters once again get their chance. The sixth stage, from Bucchianico to Porto Sant’Elpidio is largely flat. Even the final nine- kilometer time trial along the coastal road in San Benedetto del Tronto does not include a single climb.

You can read our preview of the race here and of the first stage here.

NetApp-Endura for Tirreno Adriatico:

Tiago Machado, Sam Bennett, Cesare Benedetti, David de la Cruz, Zak Dempster, Bartosz Huzarski, Iker Camano, and Paul Voss