Team NetApp-Endura made their Tour de France debut today and the team had Tour debutant Paul Voss sprinting to 12th in the tricky opening stage. The team was pleased to have brought captain Leopolod König safely through a dangerous day.

As was the case last year, Marcel Kittel (Giant – Shimano) was able to secure the first day’s victory and thus the first yellow jersey as well. On the first stage of this year’s Tour de France, he relegated Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin – Sharp) to second and third respectively after 190 kilometers. Local favorite Marc Cavendish (Omega Pharma Quick Step) was not able to play a role in the decision in Harrogate after a fall on the home stretch. Paul Voss achieved a very good twelfth place at his tour debut. The start was overshadowed by an early fall by Jose Mendes at kilometer 30 and by Zak Dempster in the final stretch. Neither of them was injured and both were able to continue the race.

“We pulled through the first stage very well. The initial stages are always very dangerous, and so today was not an easy start, since the tempo was quite high and the wind also played a role. That’s why the primary objective is that we survive the first week with nine riders and lose no time with Leo. And I have to praise the guys there. In this dangerous situation, when the bunch divided, they were completely in the picture. In the final stretch we wanted to sprint for Paul or Zak. After Zak’s fall the two coordinated and prepared for Paul. Twelfth place is  a great result for the start,” Alex Sans Vega, Sport Director of the NetApp – Endura team, summarized. 

The second stage has a profile that is comparable with an Ardennes classic. After the start in York, the route goes over 201 kilometers to Sheffield. No less than nine mountain classifications await the riders.

“A really difficult day awaits us tomorrow. We can expect a big fight right from the start for the group of the day. The race can be very open and the chances are not bad that the group could even cross the finish line together,” is the prediction from Alex Sans Vega.