Publications
Partners
Paris - Russian cycling team Katusha will compete in the Tour de France for the sixth time next month with hopes for stage wins both on the flat and in the mountains.
"This line-up reflects two main objectives for the team in the race," Katusha said on its website after releasing the lineup for the race.
"On the one hand Yuri Trofimov will fight for the Top-10 in the general classification. From the other side Alexander Kristoff will fight with the world's best sprinters in the flat stages.
In addition, top climber Joaquim Rodriguez will be given a role of a team freelancer in the mountains.
"We hope "Purito" (Rodriguez) will be able to find good form, which will allow him to fight for a stage win," said team manager Viatcheslav Ekimov.
"And, of course, other riders of the team will hunt for stage wins, too.
"I think Katusha is ready for a new three-week adventure and the only thing I would like to wish for our team is just some good luck, the only component we really missed at the Giro d'Italia."
Katusha team for Tour de France:
Vladimir Isaychev (RUS), Alexander Kristoff (NOR), Luca Paolini (ITA), Aleksandr Porsev (RUS), Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP), Egor Silin (RUS), Gatis Smukulis (LAT), Simon Spilak (SLO), Yury Trofimov (RUS)
