Sam Bennett is already on a two-year contract with NetApp-Endura, but his form so far this season has assured him a long term future at ProContinental level, if not higher. Pictured here by George Doyle during last weekend's National Road Race Championships in Westmeath. which he abandoned.
Sam Bennett’s German-based professional team, NetApp Endura are to lose both title sponsors at the end of this season it was announced today.
California-based IT company NetApp and the Scottish cycling clothing brand Endura will not extend their contracts due to expire at the end of this year.
“I regret but of course I also respect the decisions taken by both companies,” says team manager Ralph Denk.
“I would like to thank NetApp, which made it possible for me to develop a team of young riders and blaze the incredible path from an amateur level all the way to the Tour de France.
Advertisement
“I’m also grateful to Endura for supporting this young team, enjoying its most successful period thus far.
“True to the motto ‘It’s best to go when the times are good’, I assure both sponsors that we will offer them the ultimate peak in our partnerships with this year’s Tour de France.”
Although the team is losing both its sponsors at the end of the year, there was good news for Bennett and the rest of the German registered squad with the announcement that another company has signed a five year sponsorship deal with the team, to begin on January 2015.
The new sponsor will be presented at the first rest day of this year’s Tour de France in Besançon. The company has signed a five-year contract with the Ralph Denk pro cycling GmbH beginning January 1st, 2015.
Related News
“Although the withdrawal of the main sponsor usually causes a major crisis for a cycling team, for us it has opened up a brand new chance,” says Denk.
“We jumped at the opportunity and secured for ourselves long-term stability up until 2019.
“Of course, I’m especially happy that we’ve managed to do that with a German company. For me, it’s a very clear message for the sport of cycling in Germany.”
“For the team, it will be more than just a name change. We’ll also take the chance to give our squad a new face. We’ll sign on new talents and also strengthen our German roots.
“I think we'll even be much more interesting for many riders in the peloton now with the news today.
"But most importantly, our guys can compete in their first Tour de France without worrying about their future careers – that takes an enormous amount of pressure off the team.”
Bennett already has a two-year contract with the team, and on the basis of his results to date in 2014 his long term future looks bright.
Although Net App Endura left him out of their inaugural Tour de France team this year, Denk only last week hinted that Bennett has a good future with the squad.
“Our approach with Sam is much more long-term orientated,” said Denk.
“We want to build him up carefully and step-by- step. Compared to his last season, Sam raced a very intense program already and he did it very successfully.
Topics
