21-10-2009 09:32:07

Team NetApp has selected and signed 14 international, predominantly young cycling talents. With them, this continental team
has laid the foundations for its quest to advance into cycling sport’s very top league
within three years. To this end, the team’s cyclists enjoy optimal conditions,
provided not only by the management team’s extensive experience, but also
through structures that are already considerably more professional that is
necessary for a continental team.

“I am very proud to present a young, international team, with whom we will begin our first
season. Since announcing the creation of our new team, numerous young cyclists have
applied for a place in the squad. Reaching a decision was not easy. In the end, we
selected a mix, consisting of young, talented and experienced racing cyclists”, explained
team manager Ralph Denk, emphasizing his ambitions by adding, “because we don’t just
want to ride along with the other teams, we want to make a difference”.

Andreas König, head of IT company NetApp' European branch, is very pleased and
confident that the racers chosen will find success, given the right kind of support from
team and sponsors. "Now that our team is complete we are happy to have signed
cyclists from nine different countries. It is this mix of nationalities, of different ages and of
experience in which values like team spirit, dedication, honesty and openness are crucial.
These are the values that we exemplify as a company - and in my opinion they will also
help a young team on its climb to the top."

“Developing this very young team into a new generation of racing professionals will be an
exciting task. The squad we have put together is of a very high quality for a continental
team. With a view to participating in single-day races and smaller tours in northwestern
Europe, we have selected both cyclists with ProTour experience and less experienced
cyclists who have demonstrated the potential to reach the top. Every Team NetApp
cyclist will be given the opportunity to prove their abilities”, explains Jens Heppner, Sport
Director for Team NetApp.

“With a mix of quick sprinters such as Daniel Schorn, aggressive climbers such as
Cesare Benedetti and allrounders with great break-away strength like Dimitri Claeys, our
team is well-suited to all types of terrain. During the races, the younger team members
will be lead by Eric Baumann and the Dutchman Huub Duyn, who switched to Team
NetApp from Team Garmin-Slipstream”, explains Enrico Poitschke, Sport Director for
Team NetApp, describing the composition of the new team.

Team NetApp Specialist Current Team
Jan Bárta 24, CZE Allrounder KTM Junkers
Eric Baumann 29, GER Sprinter Team Nutrixxion Sparkasse
Cesare Benedetti 22, ITA Allrounder De Nardi Daigo Bergamasca
Dimitri Claeys 22, BEL Allrounder Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht
Bastien Delrot 23, FRA Allrounder Roubaix Lille Metropole
Huub Duyn 25, NED Allrounder GARMIN-Slipstream
Tassilo Fricke 18, GER Climber Quest-Ralph-Denk-Team
Alexander Gottfried 24, KAZ Allrounder Team Kuota-Indeland
Nico Keinath 22, GER Allrounder Nationale Elettronica Hadimec
Alexander Meenhorst 22, NZL Climber Nationale Elettronica Hadimec
Andreas Schillinger 26, GER Climber Team Nutrixxion Sparkasse
Daniel Schorn 21, AUT Sprinter Team Elkhaus
Michael Schwarzmann 18, GER Sprinter Quest-Ralph-Denk-Team
Timon Seubert 22, GER Allrounder Ked Bianchi Team