Team NetApp prevails in team time trial

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The German Pro Continental squad Team NetApp won stage 2b at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, a 14.9km team time trial which followed the day's morning road stage won by Elia Viviani (Liguigas-Cannondale).

British Continental team Endura Racing continued its good stretch of results this season with a second place finish, eight seconds behind NetApp, while Androni Giocattoli rounded out the top three at 15 seconds.

NetApp's Cesare Benedetti started the stage only four seconds out of the leader's jersey and with his team's stage win he now tops general classification. Previous race leader Andrea Palini's Team Idea squad ceded nearly 33 seconds to NetApp, dropping Palini to 25th overall. NetApp rides now occupy the top six positions on general classification, followed by four Endura Racing riders at 14 seconds.

"The team had a great race," said NetApp directeur sportif Jens Heppner. "We prepared ourselves deliberately for the team time trial. And now it has paid off. Today's course was technically demanding with several tight curves. But the team mastered it wonderfully. The fact that we were the clear winners and even managed to claim the leader's jersey, that just rounds it all off. I'm very proud of the team."

The Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali continues on Thursday with the 151km stage three from Fiorano Modenese to Levizzano.