In the middle of the season highlight, the Tour de France, the Katusha Team informs its drivers that they can find new employers. The unsuccessful team dissolves well, the future of the personnel is uncertain.
Nils Politt bares, as usual, white teeth. It is the trademark of the Cologne that always makes when he struggles, the face of a hissing cat. In the final of the fifth stage of the Tour de France from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to Colmar to be a red helmet with lightning again and again. Without the support of his team-mates Politt finds a way to the top of the frenzied field. The 25-Year-old classics specialist is a decent Sprinter, but against the world’s elite, he has no Chance on the day. Behind the winner Peter Sagan, the defending Green Jersey, rolling Nils Politt line in Eighth on the Target. A respectable result, and probably something like a sign of life of a stricken team.
For the riders of Katusha team have apparently received a very unpleasant message, as reported in Cycling issues are usually well-informed French sports newspaper “L’equipe”: The 24 drivers, the team can seek out new employers, have communicated to the Management internally, the information of the newspaper. A Bang during the season highlights.
Two sponsors have already jumped
According to L’équipe, the Meeting was held on Tuesday evening. In an interview with DW reflected Katusha’s press spokesman, Falk Nier speaks: “I cannot confirm That. Last Friday there was a Meeting in which our Management has told the riders and the whole staff that this is a very serious situation for the Team. The two sponsors Alpecin and Canyon have extended their contracts,” said Nier, who added: “this Meeting has been communicated to the Drive that everybody has the freedom to consider new options. I assume that all the drivers have informed your Manager.”
Team Katusha resolved, as it concludes the L’équipe circuit? No, the press Secretary speaks, the man could not say so. “The contracts continue to run but first. But that can mean.” Within the next few days the owner Igor Makarov wool inform the Team about the future. When the Public will know, could not Falk say Nier on Wednesday evening.
Vladimir Putin should be at the Foundation have been involved
A rare ray of light in a disappointing season: Nils Politt (l). behind, Philippe Gilbert, Second at Paris-Roubaix
Team Katusha-Alpecin rides under a Swiss license, but is of Russian origin and was founded in 2009 to develop the Russian Cycling. Lender, the companies Gazprom, Itera were at that time (today: Areti), Russian technologies (now Rostec), and Rosnef, the Liaison should be in place by President Vladimir Putin personally. The team is owned by Russian billionaire Igor Makarov, who has been with Oil and gas deals rich. After numerous doping cases and even a case of a manifestly suspended race, the Team lost in 2013, first of all, his license, was able to later, but with a partially new staff and a new team headquarters to initiate a reboot. By the sponsors Alpecin (Shampoo brand), and Canyon (Bicycle manufacturer), however, also came the German staff, and German influence in the Team. And it is precisely this edge will break away now.
Already rumors are doing the rounds: Katusha-Alpecin could merge with either the Canyon-equipped Corendon-Circus-Team that the shooting star of the spring, Mathieu van der Poel, under a contract. Or but also with the Team of Israel Cycling Academy, a second-rate stable, the step in the world tour wants to make. Nier wanted to, none of these rumors confirm.
16 contracts run to the end of the season
It is questionable now, what will remain of Katusha-Alpecin left. Top Sprinter Marcel Kittel had already been resolved in may, his contract – due to a form crisis, but also because of its publicly held strife with the team management. The remaining captains Ilnur Zakarin and Nils Politt are brought up in media reports for some time now with other Teams (Team CCC in the case of Zakarin, Team Deceunicnk-Quickstep, in the case of Politt). More drivers will now have to find. Only eight drivers have a contract until the end of 2020, the remaining 16 drivers only have a contract until the end of the season.
For many of the Teams, the squad planning for the coming season is already advanced, even if Transfers are allowed only from the beginning of August to be announced. So you could be quite nervous as a driver of the racing team Katusha-Alpecin. Not so Nils Politt, commented on the developments: “Since I’m going with kölsch mentality ran. Et would have still jot jejange.”
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Who will win the Tour de France?Who makes the race?
Even without the hard-to-ousted Chris Froome it will be a thrilling race. The Tour de France promises to be a voltage, even if the current Sky Team (sponsors exchange is now Ineos) again the strongest. Our candidates check shows, who could be the British dangerous…
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Who will win the Tour de France?10 Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quickstep)
Sunken cheeks, deeply seated eyes, spindly limbs and short cropped head of hair – Enric Mas many a viewer’s horror. However, the 24-year-old Spaniard is very healthy and extremely in shape. As a strong climber, he was drove to 2018, surprisingly Second in the Vuelta, this year, but so far unremarkable. Forecast: It’s not enough for the whole of the front.
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Who will win the Tour de France?9 Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
The time from Nairo Quintana is already over? From 2013 to 2016, he rode at the Tour, Giro and Vuelta will always be on the places one to four, was on the mountain a Power. But lately, the silence of Colombians, the media appointments falters shy and usually is shielded, of all the serious climbs. It is likely to be his last Chance as a captain in the Tour. Forecast: He doesn’t use them.
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Who will win the Tour de France?8 Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale)
Hopes weigh heavy Bardet on the narrow shoulders of Romain. The lanky climber is to end the long losing streak to the Frenchman in the Tour. In the last few years, it looked as if he could come closer to this goal. However, currently Bardet, who has a University degree in Management follows, its Form and the opponents. Prediction: Lose in the time trial too much time.
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Who will win the Tour de France?7 Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)
“We have taken different paths, but we are very close and talk daily to each other,” says Adam Yates, over his relationship with his twin brother, Simon. Both are talented contenders for the overall classification. In France, Simon was at the Giro captain will continue, probably for Adam. In the mountains, well, in the time trial and solid. Forecast: you Can play, but not win.
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Who will win the Tour de France?6 Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe)
From the talented riders to podium candidate Emanuel Buchmann has in preparation a strong impression of the race left. The mountain of silence Schwabe is now one of the Best in the time trial, he has improved. What is missing from the 26-year-old, is the Punch and self-confidence for a great victory. Forecast: His curve continues upwards.
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Who will win the Tour de France?5 Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida)
The Double of Giro and Tour has proved in the last few years, always too demanding. Also experienced the “shark of Messina” is to point out the hardships of the tour of Italy, which he also lost because of a tactical error, still. But with its constancy and suffering of the 34-Year-old points. Forecast: The shark a couple of teeth for a powerful bite missing.
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Who will win the Tour de France?4 Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ)
The fear of the descents is defeated, his time trial weakness, he has worked in – it is Pinot Thibaut is now finally ready for more than a good placement? Almost. The Frenchman chose a continuous structure and is focused again for the first time on the Tour. His Team is good, but others are better. Forecast: Pinot is to attack his opponents but not all of them can shake off.
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Who will win the Tour de France?3 Geraint Thomas (Ineos)
The title defenders had at the Tour de Suisse, a scary moment: After a severe fall, the dream of a second tour victory out seemed to be already dreaming. But the 33-year-old Welshman can start. His preparation of delivery is not ideal – it’s the lightness of the previous year is missing. Forecast: But to the Podium, it’s still enough.
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Who will win the Tour de France?2 Jakob Fuglsang (Astana)
For years, the Dane was in the employ of other Top riders: Jakob Fuglsang rode for the Schleck brothers, as a helper, and also in Astana, mostly in the shade. Now he is captain, and rightly so. This year, he was the most consistent of the Tour candidates, has increased on the mountain once again. Forecast: the Yellow Jersey is very close.
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Who will win the Tour de France?1 Egan Bernal (Ineos)
Viva Colombia! The Cycling-mad Nation, is looking forward to the next Star, the raptured in July, the home. And this Time it may really. Egan Bernal has exceptional performance data, and driving at Ineos in the strongest Team. At the Tour de Suisse, he was unbeatable, now he could push up the Tour of his stamp. Prediction: He leaves Colombia cheer.