Katusha Team gets new names for 2012 season

In the upcoming season of 2012 World Tour Katusha Team produces a number of changes in its roster, getting some new names. Signing a contract with Spanish rider Oscar Freire, Katusha Team practically closes its transfer campaign for the next cycling year. Finally, in 2012 Katusha Team gets 11 new riders, among them 3 Russian athletes.

In general, the list of new riders for 2012 is following:

Maxim Belkov, Timofey Kritskiy, Alexey Tsatevich (all – Russia), Gatis Smukulis (Latvia), Oscar Freire Gomes, Xavier Florencio Cabre, Angel Vicioso Arcos (all – Spain), Alexander Kristoff (Norway), Marco Haller (Austria), Rudiger Selig (Germany) and Simon Spilak (Slovenia).

Short information about newcomer riders:

Maxim Belkov (1985) – Russian ITT U23 champion 2006, European ITT U23 champion 2007, 1st place in TTT “Coppi-Bartali 2009”, 1st place in TTT “Brixia Tour 2010”.

Timofey Kritskiy (1987) – Russian TTT champion 2011, 1st place at two stages of “Tour of Bulgaria 2011”, 3rd place at a stage of “Volta a Portugal 2011”.

Alexey Tsatevich (1989) – 1st place “GP Nogent-sur-Oise 2011”, 1st place at a stage of “Alsace Tour 2011”, 2nd place at “La Cote Picarde”, 2nd place at “GP of Moscow 2011”, 2nd place at “GP of Budapest”.

Gatis Smukulis (1987) – Latvian ITT champion 2011, 1st place at a stage of “Vuelta a Catalunya 2011”, 2nd place at a stage of “Tour of Austria 2011”.

Oscar Freire (1976) – World RR champion in 1999, 2001 and 2004, winner of 4 stages of “Tour de France”, winner of 7 stages of “Vuelta a Espana”, Green jersey of “Tour de France 2008”, winner of “Milan – San Remo” in 2004, 2007 and 2010.

Xavier Florencio (1979) – 3rd place at a stage of “Circuit Cyclist Sarthe 2011”, 3rd place in GC of “Tour de Limousine 2010”, 3rd place at a stage of “Vuelta a Catalunya 2010”, 1st place at “Classica San Sebastian 2006”.

Angel Vicioso (1977) – 1st place at a stage of “Giro d’Italia 2011”, 1st place at “GP Industria & Artigianato 2011”, 1st place at TTT “Coppi-Bartali 2011”.

Alexander Kristoff (1987) – Norway RR champion 2011, 2nd place at “GP Fourmier”, 2nd place at a stage of “Tour of Poland”.

Marco Haller (1991) – Austrian Track individual pursuit champion 2011, 2nd place at “Burgerland Tour 2011”, 5th place at World RR U23 championships 2011.

Rudiger Selig (1989) – 1st place at “Binche – Tournai – Binche 2011”, 1st place at GC of “Oder Tour 2011”, German Track point race champion 2011, 4th place at World RR U23 championships 2011.

Simon Spilak (1986) – 1st place at GC of “Tour de Romandie 2010”, 5th place at “Giro del Friuli 2011”, 5th place at GC of “Tour of Slovenia 2011”.