Katusha Pro Cycling team celebrates its 5th year

2014 sees the fifth anniversary of the formation of the Katusha Pro Cycling team. The Russian backed team was formed out of the embers of the of the Tinkoff Credit Systems squad. The pro racing team was part of the Russian Global Cycling Project, that was set up to promote cycling in Russia. The project has set out to develop cycling as a healthy pastime pursuit and to establish Russia as a strong force in pro cycling racing around the world. Their involvement in the sport starts at the grass roots level with racing at youth level and national championships.

 

The Russian Global Cycling Project had the backing of three prominent Russian companies, Gazprom, Russian Technologies and Itera.  The Katusha team entered the Pro Tour League and immediately signed some of the best riders in the world like Robbie McEwen, who got the team's first victory in the 2009 Down Under classic. In their inaugural season the Katusha team managed 23 victories, including Filippo Pozzato's victory in the Giro Del Veneto.  The team went from strength to strength in the following seasons, strengthening their place among the sport's elite.  In 2012 the Katusha team was ranked No 2 in the world, with team member Joaquim Rodriguez became the No1 rider in the world after he finished top of the UCI world rankings at the end of the season.

Following the Katusha team's success, the Russian Global Cycling Project announced the formation of a continental class race team, to bring on young Russian riders under the ITERA-Katusha banner. The continental racing team has twice finished top of the continental rankings. Further to this they added two youth teams for riders aged 19 to 22, so helping even more young Russian riders make the step up the pro ranks. 

The Katusha team looks set to get off to a good start to the 2014 season, with riders racing in the Tour Down Under and out in Dubai and Qatar. The team spent the winter training camp on the island of Mallorca, riding up in the island's mountains. The team members out there also took part in a group of short races based on the island. The Katusha team is now racing in the Tour of Oman and team member Alexander Kristoff from Norway won the second stage of the race. This is going to be a big year for the Katusha team and will be looking to veteran riders such as Joaquim Rodriguez and Daniel Moreno to provide inspiration to the rest of the team. 

 

With the success of the Katusha team on the World Tour, cycling in Russia is growing in popularity all the time, not just in competition but as a recreational pursuit as well.