Katusha–Alpecin

Team Katusha was launched on December 22, 2008 from the acquisition of team Tinkoff Credit Systems.{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Les |date=24 December 2008 |title=Tinkov breaks with Team Katusha |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/dec08/dec18news |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Cyclingnews.com}} Initially, it relied solely on the financial support of Igor Makarov, who served as its sponsor.{{Cite web |last=ahood |date=2014-12-31 |title=Katusha 'guaranteed' despite growing troubles in Russia |url=https://www.velonews.com/news/road/katusha-guaranteed-despite-growing-troubles-russia/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=VeloNews.com |language=en}} This financial backing sustained the team until 2017 when a new partnership was forged with Alpecin, resulting in the co-sponsorship and renaming of the team to Team Katusha-Alpecin.{{Cite web |author1=Cycling News |date=2016-10-11 |title=Alpecin moves sponsorship over to Katusha for 2017 |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/alpecin-moves-sponsorship-over-to-katusha-for-2017/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}

The team was launched with a budget of over {{euro|15 million}}.[http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jul08/jul16news2 Renamed Tinkoff Credit System squad undergoes major expansion] Stokes, Shane; Cyclingnews.com; 16 July 08; Accessed 19 January 2009 In its first official season it signed leading cyclists such as Robbie McEwen, Vladimir Karpets, Filippo Pozzato and Gert Steegmans.[http://www.france24.com/en/20081224-cycling-new-russian-team-katusha-unveiled-moscow-steegmans-pozzato-mcewen Russian team Katusha unveiled in Moscow] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522002746/http://www.france24.com/en/20081224-cycling-new-russian-team-katusha-unveiled-moscow-steegmans-pozzato-mcewen |date=2011-05-22 }} AFP; France24.com; 24 December 2008; Accessed 19 January 2009 The team first raced at the 2009 Tour Down Under.

During the 2009 season, the team earned 23 wins. Some of the notable wins were Sergei Ivanov’s Amstel Gold victory, Filippo Pozzato's Italian road title and triumph at Giro del Veneto.Pozzato wins Giro del Veneto [http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/81st-giro-del-veneto-1-hc/results] Cyclingnews; 29 August 2009; Accessed 16 July 2011

After the 2012 season, Katusha lost their UCI World Tour license, despite having in their ranks the champion of the 2012 season (Joaquim Rodríguez) and finishing the 2012 UCI World Tour team rankings in second position.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/535982/saxo-tinkoff-in-katusha-out-of-uci-worldtour.html|title=Saxo-Tinkoff in, Katusha out of UCI WorldTour|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media Sports & Leisure network|date=10 December 2012|access-date=10 December 2012|author=Gregor Brown}} The team appealed that decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and it was announced on 15 February 2013 that the decision of the UCI was overturned and that Katusha would be part of the 2013 UCI World Tour.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13947/Katusha-wins-CAS-appeal-over-WorldTour-licence-UCI-ruling-overturned.aspx|title=Katusha wins CAS appeal over WorldTour licence, UCI ruling overturned|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=15 February 2013|access-date=15 February 2013|author=Shane Stokes}}

Its most successful season was 2015 when the team took victories in the Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem, Scheldeprijs and GP Ouest France – Plouay, as well as overall wins in the Tour of the Basque Country, Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie and stage wins in the Tour de France, Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain.

During the 2017 season, two staff members were videotaped dumping the team RV's septic system in a parking lot off the highway at the Amgen Tour of California. The California Highway Patrol and race organizers were informed of the incident and the waste was later professionally removed. The pair were suspended and sent home from the race.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/05/21/swiss-cycling-team-staff-banned-from-tour-of-california-for-dumping-septic-tank-waste-along-highway/|title=Swiss cycling team staff banned from Tour of California for dumping septic tank waste along highway|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=20 May 2017|access-date=21 May 2017|author=Marissa Payne}}

In October 2019, Israel Cycling Academy completed the takeover of Katusha–Alpecin, including its World Tour license.{{cite news |last1=Malach |first1=Pat |last2=Farrand |first2=Stephen |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-cycling-academy-complete-katusha-alpecin-takeover/ |title=Israel Cycling Academy complete Katusha-Alpecin takeover |work=VeloNews (velonews.com) |date=2 October 2019 |access-date=2 October 2019 |archive-date=2 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002030202/https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-cycling-academy-complete-katusha-alpecin-takeover/}}

In March 2009, Christian Pfannberger tested positive for EPO{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pfannbergers-b-sample-positive-for-epo|title=Pfannberger's B-Sample positive for EPO|author=Daniel Simms|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=29 June 2009}} and was banned for life.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lifelong-ban-for-pfannberger-after-second-doping-violation|title=Lifelong ban for Pfannberger after second doping violation|author=Susan Westemeyer|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=21 November 2009}} In April of the same year Antonio Colom tested positive for EPO.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/5488520/Antonio-Colom-suspended-after-positive-EPO-test.html|title=Antonio Colom suspended after positive EPO test|author=Telegraph staff and agencies|date=9 June 2009|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}

In 2011, a number of police searches led by the Padova authorities were conducted in Italy during April. The searches were linked to a broader doping investigation linked to Michele Ferrari. Katusha riders Vladimir Gusev, Mikhail Ignatiev, Vladimir Karpets and Alexandr Kolobnev were searched.{{cite web|url=http://www.dopeology.org/incidents/Padova-searches/|title=Padova searches . Dopeology|work=dopeology.org}} Later in July, Kolobnev tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) on stage 5 of the 2011 Tour de France.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/14116083|title=BBC Sport – Alexandr Kolobnev suspended after B sample tests positive|work=BBC Sport}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/8631064/Tour-de-France-2011-Alexandr-Kolobnev-of-the-Katusha-team-fails-dope-test.html|title=Tour de France 2011: Alexandr Kolobnev of the Katusha team fails dope test|date=11 July 2011|work=Telegraph.co.uk}} Two weeks later Kolobnev's B-sample returned a positive for HCT.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kolobnevs-b-sample-also-positive-for-hydrochlorothiazide|title=Kolobnev's B sample also positive for hydrochlorothiazide|author=Cycling News|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=20 July 2011}}

In April 2012, Denis Galimzyanov tested positive for EPO in an out of competition test.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denis-galimzyanov-returns-positive-test-for-epo|title=Denis Galimzyanov returns positive test for EPO|author=Cycling News|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=16 April 2012}} Galimzyanov later admitted to taking the banned substance.{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/04/news/galimzyanov-admits-epo-use-absolves-katusha_213945|title=Galimzyanov admits EPO use, absolves Katusha|work=VeloNews.com}} In June 2012 Filippo Pozzato admitted to using the services of Dr Ferrari from 2004 to 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pozzato-to-front-coni-anti-doping-prosecutor-today|title=Pozzato to front CONI anti-doping prosecutor today|author=Cycling News|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=19 June 2012}}

During the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Denis Menchov was on team Katusha, but, on 12 July 2014, was banned from cycling events until 9 April 2015 due to adverse biological passport findings. However, he announced his retirement from cycling on 21 May 2013.{{cite news |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12122011/58/russian-menchov-joins-katusha.html |title=Russian Menchov joins Katusha: Double Grand Tour winner Denis Menchov is joining Katusha for next season. |agency=Reuters |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=27 July 2023 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193934/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12122011/58/russian-menchov-joins-katusha.html}}{{cite news |url=http://run-ski.ru/newsother/menshov-diskvalifitsirovan-na-2-goda.html |title=Меньшов дисквалифицирован на 2 года |trans-title=Menshov disqualified for 2 years |language=ru |work=Run & Ski (Бег и лыжи) at run-ski.ru |date=13 July 2014 |access-date=27 July 2023 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081355/http://run-ski.ru/newsother/menshov-diskvalifitsirovan-na-2-goda.html}}

In July 2015, Luca Paolini tested positive for cocaine (Benzoylecgonine metabolite) in a sample given on July 7 during the 2015 Tour de France. As a result, the team withdrew Paolini from the Tour de France.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/paolini-informed-of-cocaine-positive-at-tour-de-france|title=Paolini informed of cocaine positive at Tour de France|author=Cycling News|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=10 July 2015}} A month later, in August, Giampaolo Caruso returned an EPO positive from a sample taken in March 2012, which had been subsequently retested due to advances in detecting technology. He was suspended by the team awaiting testing of his B-sample.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giampaolo-caruso-returns-positive-epo-test/|title=Giampaolo Caruso returns positive EPO test|author=Cycling News|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=18 August 2015}}

In February 2016, Eduard Vorganov tested positive for the newly WADA-banned compound Meldonium. Due to the frequency of doping positives, the teams faced a potential 15- to 45-day ban.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/katushas-eduard-vorganov-provisionally-suspended-by-uci-for-doping-violation/|title = Katusha's Eduard Vorganov provisionally suspended by UCI for doping violation|date = 5 February 2016}}

{{Updated|31 December 2019.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/katusha-alpecin-announce-reduced-24-rider-roster-for-2019/|title=Katusha-Alpecin announce reduced 24-rider roster for 2019|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=20 November 2018|access-date=4 January 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/marcel-kittel-quits-katusha-alpecin-422725|title=Marcel Kittel quits Katusha-Alpecin|first=Alex|last=Ballinger|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=TI Media|date=9 May 2019|access-date=8 July 2019}}}}

{{Cycling squad start}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Enrico Battaglin|nat=ITA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1989|11|17}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jenthe Biermans|nat=BEL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1995|10|30}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Ian Boswell|nat=USA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1991|2|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Steff Cras|nat=BEL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1996|2|13}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jens Debusschere|nat=BEL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1989|8|28}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Alex Dowsett|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1988|10|3}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Matteo Fabbro|nat=ITA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1995|4|10}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=José Gonçalves|nat=POR|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1989|2|13}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Ruben Guerreiro|nat=POR|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1994|7|6}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Nathan Haas|nat=AUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1989|3|12}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Marco Haller|nat=AUT|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1991|4|1}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Reto Hollenstein|nat=SUI|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1985|8|22}}}}

{{Cycling squad mid}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Pavel Kochetkov|nat=RUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1986|3|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Vyacheslav Kuznetsov|nat=RUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1989|6|24}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Daniel Navarro|nat=ESP|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1983|7|18}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Nils Politt|nat=GER|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1994|3|6}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Willie Smit|nat=RSA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1992|12|29}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Simon Špilak|nat=SLO|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1986|6|23}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Dmitry Strakhov|nat=RUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1995|5|17}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Harry Tanfield|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1994|11|17}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Mads Würtz Schmidt|nat=DNK|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1994|3|31}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Rick Zabel|nat=GER|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1993|12|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Ilnur Zakarin|nat=RUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2019|12|31|1989|9|15}}}}

{{Cycling squad end}}

{{Main|List of wins by Team Katusha and its successors}}

Since the creation of Team Katusha in 2009, its riders have won many races. As of January 2017, these included 28 stages in Grand Tours and four cycling monuments: the 2012 and 2013 Il Lombardia were won by Joaquim Rodríguez, and the 2014 Milan–San Remo and the 2015 Tour of Flanders were won by Alexander Kristoff.

In 2019, sponsors Alpecin and Canyon bikes confirmed that they were ending their sponsorship of the team, with Israel Cycling Academy buying the Katusha–Alpecin management company from the ex-professional cyclist, entrepreneur and UCI Management Committee member Igor Makarov.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/israel-cycling-academy-complete-katusha-alpecin-takeover/|title=Israel Cycling Academy complete Katusha-Alpecin takeover|last1=Malach|first1=Pat|last2=Farr|first2=Stephen|website=cyclingnews.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10|last3=2019-10-02T16:08:19Z|date=2 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.velonews.com/2019/07/news/azevedo-denies-reports-that-katusha-alpecin-could-disband_496631|title=Azevedo denies reports that Katusha-Alpecin could disband|date=2019-07-10|website=VeloNews.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/news/israel-cycling-academy-set-to-acquire-katushas-worldtour-license-report/|title=Israel Cycling Academy set to acquire Katusha's WorldTour license, report|date=2019-09-26|website=Canadian Cycling Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-10}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

;2009

:20px Italian Road Race, Filippo Pozzato

:20px Russian Road Race, Sergei Ivanov

;2010

:20px Moldovan Road Race, Alexandre Pliuschin

:20px Russian Road Race, Alexandre Kolobnev

:20px Russian Time Trial, Vladimir Gusev

;2011

:20px Russian Road Race, Pavel Brutt

:20px Russian Time Trial, Mikhail Ignatiev

:20px Belarusian Road Race, Aleksandr Kuschynski

:20px Moldovan Road Race, Alexandre Pliuschin

;2012

:20px Russian Road Race, Eduard Vorganov

:20px Latvian Time Trial, Gatis Smukulis

:20px Russian Time Trial, Denis Menchov

;2013

:20px Latvian Time Trial, Gatis Smukulis

:20px Russian Road Race, Vladimir Isaichev

;2014

:20px Latvian Time Trial, Gatis Smukulis

:20px Russian Time Trial, Anton Vorobyev

:20px Russian Road Race, Alexander Porsev

;2015

:20px Latvian Time Trial, Gatis Smukulis

:20px Russian Road Race, Yuri Trofimov

:20px Austrian Road Race, Marco Haller

;2016

:20px Russian Time Trial, Sergey Chernetskiy

:20px Russian Road Race, Pavel Kochetkov

;2017

:20px Russian Time Trial, Ilnur Zakarin

:20px German Time Trial, Tony Martin

:20px European Road Race, Alexander Kristoff

;2019

:20px British Time Trial, Alex Dowsett

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Team Katusha}}

• {{official website}}

{{Team Katusha–Alpecin seasons}}

{{UCI WorldTeams}}

{{Vuelta a España team classification winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katusha-Alpecin}}

Category:Former UCI WorldTeams

Category:Cycling teams established in 2009

Category:Cycling teams based in Russia

Category:2009 establishments in Russia

Category:Cycling teams based in Switzerland

Category:Cycling teams established in 2017

Category:2017 establishments in Switzerland

Category:2019 disestablishments in Switzerland

Category:Cycling teams disestablished in 2019