Rodríguez and Robbie McEwen in, Pozzato out of Katusha’s Tour de France squad
Rodríguez and McEwen in, Pozzato out of Katusha's Tour squad
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Joaquín Rodríguez will make an overdue Tour de France debut while Filippo Pozzato will not race as Katusha revealed its Tour de France nine-man roster Friday.
Rodríguez has done well at both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, but never got a crack at the Tour, which was a large reason why he switched to the Russian-backed Katusha for 2010. Rodríguez enjoyed a breakout spring, winning the Volta a Catalunya, the GP Miguel Indurain, as well as coming third at the Vuelta al País Vasco and second at Flèche Wallonne.
The scrappy Spanish fighter will be the team’s GC co-leader along with Vladimir Karpets. Both will be hoping for a top-10 finish overall and a stage victory.
Back in the Tour after missing last year’s with an injury will be two-time green jersey winner Robbie McEwen. The veteran Australian sprinter will be hoping he can win at least one stage against a new generation of younger stars.
Sergey Ivanov and Alexander Kolobnev, also making his Tour debut, will give the team solid breakaway and stage-hunting options.
Pozzato will race the Vuelta a España instead as part of his major push for the world title in Australia in September.
Katusha for Tour de France
- Joaquim Rodríguez (Spa)
- Pavel Brutt (Rus)
- Sergey Ivanon (Rus)
- Vladimir Karpets (Rus)
- Robbie McEwen (Aus)
- Alexander Kolobnev (Rus)
- Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel)
- Eduard Vorganov (Rus)
- Alexandr Pliuschin (Rus)