Erik Zabel arrives, Marcel Kittel is hungry for results
Team KATUSHA ALPECIN 2019 presented in Koblenz

Six new riders, Erik Zabel on board as performance manager and highly experienced Dirk Demol coming in as a new team director, combined with a deeply motivated Marcel Kittel, marked the team presentation of KATUSHA ALPECIN in Germany on Friday evening.

The 2019 team presentation for KATUSHA ALPECIN took place at the Canyon headquarters in Koblenz, marking the 11th season for the WorldTour squad. With sponsors, journalists, friends and family on hand to kick off the new cycling season, twenty-four riders from 14 countries, including six new riders, were introduced in a multi-media presentation that showed highlights of the past season and shared changes, goals and ambitions for the upcoming year.
Two notable changes include the establishment of the performance department and the hiring of a new head sports director. Team general manager José Azevedo sees both as positive steps in the overall structure of the team.

Azevedo:“Erik Zabel has joined us for 2019. We have created a new department within the team, the performance department and Erik will be the manager of this department. He will be responsible for all performance of riders, as well as materials and will work along with our sponsors to be sure we have the best. He was one of the best riders of his generation, so he also has experience and advice to share with our sprinters.”Working along with the coaches and sports directors, Zabel will analyze training and racing data to stay on top of performance goals.
An enthusiastic Erik Zabel added, “I still believe there is so much potential within this team. Really, there are so many talented riders and I’ve already seen in them the desire to do better and have a winning season. Our main goal in the performance department is to support the riders and help them do better. They understand that they must work harder to achieve the results they know are within reach. We have training camp in Mallorca starting Saturday and the riders will learn their race programs and what their training requirements will be to achieve their goals. I guess you could say I will be monitoring everything in a way it was not handled before, perhaps more strict than in the past, but I feel this is what we need to see results from KATUSHA ALPECIN. Each director will have four or five riders in his ‘group’ and will be in constant communication with the rider so we all stay on the same page. Of course, we also need some good luck next year, but I hope that will not be a main factor as we try for results.”

In the sports director department, GM Azevedo has hired long-time friend and former teammate Dirk Demol to head up the director’s group. Azevedo: “Next year Dirk will be our head sports director. He has so much experience in cycling. He has experience in winning every kind of race, plus he is a person who creates a good team spirit around him and knows how to motivate the riders to make them believe they can achieve results. He will pass on his knowledge to the riders, along with the rest of our very experienced group of directors.”
Dirk Demol, winner of Paris-Roubaix in 1988, looks forward to his work with a new team: “I start my 20th season in the car next year so I can safely say I have a lot of experience. I have a very good history with José Azevedo and I was happy to come to his team to see if I can help. When I look at this group here, there is talent for sure and I’m going to do my best to help them perform again. When I look around, I see so many quality riders, and cycling is my life, so I know what I am seeing. I’m motivated and quite confident that we can see strong results from this group.”
On hand at the team presentation was team founder Mr. Igor Makarov, noting that on December 23 it will be 10-years since the first Team Katusha was launched. Mr. Makarov continues his support of the cycling team, along with other Katusha projects such as Katusha Sports Katusha Travel and Café.

Mr. Makarov: “The political situation around the world is quite different than what it was ten years ago, when we were a Russian team, but now we have turned into a very international team. What is most important always are the people and the relationships you build with people. With that being said, we have a really good team. I am very grateful to Eduard and Roman for joining me in this team as sponsors. I am very proud of this international team.”
Also present was Mr. Eduard Dörrenberg, representing Alpecin in their third year of sponsorship and Roman Arnold of Canyon, who start their eighth season of bike sponsorship for the team and hosted Friday’s event.
Team riders Marcel Kittel and Ilnur Zakarin discussed their hopes for a strong season and will continue in their leadership roles for 2019. Zakarin’s season highlight was completing the Tour de France with a solid ninth place position on the general classification. The promising Russian cycling star hopes for even better results next year.
Zakarin:“This year I will prepare mainly for the Giro, along with some earlier races, such as Abu Dhabi and I will also do multiple stage races. I plan, also, to do two training camps at altitude.”
In addition, German sprinter Marcel Kittel has fought through a tough season to emerge on the other side with an even stronger sense of dedication and focus. I expect this to be a good season and I am looking forward to racing again.
Marcel Kittel: “When things go wrong, it forces you to look at how you do things and where you focus your energy. I am at a point where I am focusing 100% on my training and my races – I realize I need to focus on the basics. I started training early now for next season, I am feeling fresh and motivated to win again.”
With results in 2018 that were not up to the expectations and potential of the team, a re-grouping and re-dedication to the effort is producing much needed enthusiasm for the new season.
Azevedo:“Both Dirk and Erik are good with their communication skills and we know we can do better. Honestly, 2018 was not a good year for us, so we have analyzed our season and made changes that we think will make a difference. Our goal is always to improve the team and learn from past mistakes. I see a stronger team that we’ve been in prior years.”On Saturday the team fly to Mallorca, Spain to begin the first training camp of the season.

KATUSHA ALPECIN for 2019: Enrico Battaglin (ITA), Jenthe Biermans (BEL), Ian Boswell (USA), Steff Cras (BEL), Jens Debusschere (BEL), Alex Dowsett (GB), Matteo Fabbro (ITA), José Gonçalves (POR), Ruben Guerreiro (POR), Nathan Haas (AUS), Marco Haller (AUT), Reto Hollenstein (SUI), Marcel Kittel (GER), Pavel Kochetkov (RUS), Viacheslav Kuznetsov (RUS), Daniel Navarro (SPA), Nils Politt (GER), Simon Špilak

Images credits: ©TKA/Kathrin Schafbauer
@plomiphotos
KATUSHA MEDIA SERVICE
Philippe Maertens
maertens@teamkatushaalpecin.com
+32 492 22 78 96
Falk Nier
nier@teamkatushaalpecin.com

Italian rider Enrico Battaglin and KATUSHA ALPECIN have reached an agreement for the next two years. Battaglin, 28, comes to the team with three stage wins in the Giro d’Italia, the most recent in 2018 (also 2013 and 2014).
Enrico Battaglin: „For sure I am happy and enthusiastic. This is a great opportunity for me. I have no bad words for my former team; on the contrary, this is just a step upwards in my career. I want to do more than I have done in the past. I will get more chances in the future and I will do everything not to disappoint Team KATUSHA ALPECIN. The team really wanted me and this, of course, gives me wings. I hope to show nice things in the Ardennes classics and of course I want to win in stage races. I cannot wait to show what I am able to. I also love the international character of KATUSHA ALPECIN. In that sense I am an atypical Italian.“
Already before turning professional in 2012, Battaglin – as a trainee – quickly won the Coppa Sabatini, and has continued winning races in most seasons. General Manager José Azevedo sees even more potential for Enrico.
„He is a rider who I think can win races. He showed us this year in the Giro when he won a stage that he can take on a hard stage in the hills. He’s a good climber and in some stages he can be a good helper for our leaders, especially in the medium mountains. He can work in the medium mountains and he can win in the same so this shows he’s a winner to us. There are many races on the calendar that can be good for him, both stage races and the classics – something like Amstel Gold Race. When you see the type of rider he is, I think he can do well.“

Team KATUSHA ALPECIN has reached an agreement with 23-year old Harry Tanfield and look forward to working with the young British cyclist over the next two years. Tanfield currently rides for UCI Continental team Canyon Eisberg and will step up to the WorldTour in the 2019 cycling season. Tanfield, who wore the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 leader’s jersey this season after winning the race’s opening stage into Doncaster, is still pinching himself.
Tanfield: The WorldTour has always been the ultimate ambition. I have a foot in the door now and have two years to prove myself. I don’t pretend to think I have made it. The hard work starts now and the challenge is for me to show I can progress as a rider.
Tanfield specializes in one-day races as well as the individual time trial, and recently took second place behind Geraint Thomas in the Great Britain National Championships (ITT). Earlier results from 2018 include that stage win in the Tour de Yorkshire as well as second place finishes in the one-day races of Midden-Brabant Poort Omloop and Ronde van Overijssel, both 1.2 rated races.
General Manager José Azevedo will officially welcome Tanfield on board his KATUSHA ALPECIN squad on January 1, when the Yorkshireman will line-up alongside fellow Brit Alex Dowsett.
We’ve been watching Harry with our partner Canyon for a while. He’s not only a talented time trial rider. We have seen on this year’sTour de Yorkshire that he has all the skills to win big races. While this is a big step for him now, we as a team will provide him with the best possible support to continue his positive development, said Azevedo.
Canyon Eisberg sports director Tim Elverson has spoken of his pride at Tanfield’s elevation to cycling’s top tier. He sees it as another feather in the cap of his British UCI Continental outfit, who are busy preparing for next month’s Tour of Britain.
Elverson: I’m super happy. It is great Harry’s work has been recognised because he really does deserve it. It underlines Canyon’s commitment to our relationship and also shows we are operating at a level where we can deliver someone to the WorldTour.KATUSHA ALPECIN are getting a very strong, young rider. Hopefully they can help him progress to the next stage and that is to be a reliable WorldTour rider. I have no doubt that is what Harry will become. And from everyone at Canyon Eisberg, we wish him the very best of luck.
I wanted to honour the faith Canyon has put in me through Tim (Elverson) and Nick Allen (Canyon UK), so joining KATUSHA ALPECIN was always the dream. I had just set out on a training ride when José (Azevedo) rang me. I was over the moon. Now I just can’t wait to get started. I have to thank everyone at Canyon Eisberg but especially Tim. We’ve worked together for three years and it has been a great ride, added Tanfield.

Team KATUSHA ALPECIN are happy to announce three more agreements with riders for the current and next cycling season. Returning riders Willie Smit and Viacheslav Kuznetsov have both signed one-year agreements for 2019, while Dmitry Strakhov will join the team as a stagiare for the rest of the 2018 season.
Smit, age 25, is still in his first year of racing at the highest level, but General Manager José Azevedo likes what he’s seen from the South African.
Azevedo: “He came to us from a continental team as first in the African ranking, so this has been a very big step for him. This year he did a few WorldTour races, and we know that’s a lot to ask, so it was a bit of a test to see his capacity and potential. He’s had some interesting results – as an example in Amstel Gold race he rode almost all day in the break when he had never raced at all in Holland. It’s complicated for riders when they don’t know the race. In other races he’s tried to sprint. So he has shown us his potential but he needs time and we’ve re-signed him for another year. We believe in him and I believe after this learning year, next year he can show his true self.”
A returning veteran of 6 years on the team is 29-year old Russian ‘Slava’ Kuznetsov.
Azevedo: “Kuznetsov has been with us many, many years and we know him very well. He’s a rider who is part of the classics group, but he’s also fast and sometimes when we need him to work for our leaders, he is able to do this job. We want to keep Slava in the team for two reasons – one, because he is an important rider for the classics to work for our leader and two, he’s also a rider when given some freedom can get a result. We want to continue our work with him from these last years.”
A new face on the team will be 23-year-old Russian Dmitry Strakhov, who will come on board as a stagiare August 1st.
Azevedo: “I have followed him these last two years. He’s a fast rider. In 2018, in Spain and Portugal, he’s won five races in a sprint, most of the time when the stage has been hard. So he can pass over parcours that include medium mountains and then still sprint. He’s a rider that has some possibilities in the classics. He has shown us some of his potential so we believe in him and are happy to bring him onto the team as a stagiare with the idea to keep him on the team for the next two years.”
KATUSHA MEDIA SERVICE
Philippe Maertens
maertens@teamkatushaalpecin.com
+32 492 22 78 96
Falk Nier
nier@teamkatushaalpecin.com

On Wednesday, July 11th, Kenny Nijssen reached the highest wattage per kilogram on a Tacx Neo smart trainer device. Nijssen reached 6.4 Watt/kg and was rewarded with a genuine internship at Team KATUSHA ALPECIN. Starting August 1st, Nijssen will be a trainee/stagiair in the Swiss WorldTour team until December 31st 2018.
– This is really fantastic. I knew I could come close but to win, that is something else. Since my qualification for the Wattmeister finale, I was focused on this day. I saw my wattages were good. I skipped the Marmotte last week, just to give my body some rest for today. Already for many years I have tried to get a chance on a higher level, and now I can prove what I can do in a WorldTour team. I hope to show what I am capable of, – said Kenny Nijssen.
Kenny Nijssen (UWTC De Volharding) is 27 years old. With his 52,5 kg, Kenny Nijssen is a climber. He is especially known in the granfondo world. In 2016 he was the winner of La Marmotte (over Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier and l’Alpe d’Huez), a granfondo earlier won by pro riders like Laurens Ten Dam and Sander Armée.
In Amsterdam ten riders fought for the trainee contract at KATUSHA ALPECIN. Nijssen ended his challenge with a score of 6.29 Watt per kg. Second place was for Thijs de Lange with 6.28 Watt/kg. Third was Jeen de Jong (6.05). 2017 Wattmeister Piotr Havik finished fourth.
Wattmeister Challenge was an initiative from bicycle brand Canyon, KATUSHA ALPECIN and Topcompetitie. The Topcompetitie is a cycling league with eight Dutch races for men at semi-professional level. The Wattmeister was allowed to wear the red KATUSHA/Canyon jersey in the races. That jersey could only be attacked by the Topcompetitie riders on a smart trainer device (Tacx Neo) under the auspices of specialized exercise physiologist. The winner of Young Rider competition is guaranteed a trainee contract at the WorldTour Team LottoNL-Jumbo.
– We were immediately charmed by this initiative. It is original but also ground-breaking. The participants were highly motivated to become a trainee/stagiair in Team KATUSHA ALPECIN and, as the Wattmeister is a rider of one of the 17 Topcompetion teams, we know that he will be a rider with experience. Last year we only had positive experiences with Piotr Havik. We are eager to add another Dutch talent to our selection. Now it’s up to Kenny to prove what he can at the highest level, said José Azevedo, General Manager of Team KATUSHA ALPECIN.
KATUSHA MEDIA SERVICE
Philippe Maertens
maertens@teamkatushaalpecin.com
+32 492 22 78 96
Falk Nier
nier@teamkatushaalpecin.com
+32 492 22 78 98