Two bronze medals for NetApp – Endura in the national road championships
After the gold for Jan Barta in the Czech time trial championships, Team NetApp – Endura won two more medals at today's finals in the championship weekend. Tiago Machado earned a bronze medal in Portugal. Jan Barta wasn't quite able to fully defend his street championship in the Czech Republic, but was finally able to rejoice in a bronze medal. André Greipl (Lotto-Belisol) successfully defended his champion jersey in the German championships.
The 206.4-kilometer race on a circuit in Baunatal-Edermünde was dominated by a six-man lead group even in the finish. Despite an aggressive riding style and several attacks during the last round in a strong performance, Paul Voß was unable to break away from the sprinter team. In the end, Greipl won out over Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) und Bauhaus (Stölting) in a mass sprint. Ralf Matzka took seventh place as the best NetApp – Endura pro.
In the Czech Republic, the Omega Pharma Quick-Step duo Stybar-Vakoc took their revenge on Jan Barta for their defeat in the time trials. Unlike in that race against the clock Zdenek Stybar took the gold, in front of his teammate Petr Vakoc. Title defender Jan Barta had to be content with third place at the end of the 192 kilometers.
In the Portuguese championships in Sabugal, Tiago Machado ensured a second bronze medal for the NetApp – Endura team. After six selective circuits, each of 33.5 kilometers, Nelson Oliveira (Lampre) won with a lead of five seconds ahead of Sérgio Sousa (Efapel – Glassdrive) and Tiago Machado, who reached the finish line twelve seconds behind the winner.
Slovenian rider Blaz Jarc who already took bronze in the TT earlier this month, today finished in a solid ninth place in his national road championships.