cycling: Team presentations 2017: Katusha-Alpecin – upheaval with high risk

Cycling: The racing team, which has been racing under a Russian license as Team Katusha for the past few years, will start next year with a German co-sponsor and Swiss license as Katusha-Alpecin. Not only because of Tony Martin's commitment, it should be one of the most exciting projects of the coming season.

Katusha Alpecin 2017: Transfers

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Katusha-Alpecin 2017: team bikes and equipment

The partnership between Katusha and the Koblenz-based bike manufacturer Canyon will also be continued for Katusha-Alpecin: In most races, the men will again take their places on the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX, which will probably be designed in the typical Katusha red again in the coming season becomes. Tony Martin's new work tool in his prime discipline against the clock will be the new Canyon Speedmax CF SLX, which the reigning time trial world champion has been looking forward to since his commitment: "I also think the Canyon bikes are great and that's particularly important for me as a time trialist," he said at the time.

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The Katusha Kit for the coming season was presented last weekend in warm Spain – there are no experiments, and in 2017 the Katusha-Alpecin riders will again be easily recognizable in the peloton with their red outfit. The clothing line for non-professionals, which Katusha presented a few weeks ago, is completely new.

Katusha-Alpecin 2017: upheaval with a lot of risk

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The Katusha-Alpecin team will start in 2017 with a license from Switzerland. In the person of Reto Hollenstein, however, you can only strengthen yourself with a Swiss. Three Germans join the team: Rick Zabel and the two time trial world champions Marco Mathis and Tony Martin. After the departure of figurehead Joaquim Rodriguez and many other drivers, a change is also appropriate. This strongly indicates that the focus will be more and more on Ilnur Zakarin, because a real successor to Purito has not been signed. After the departure of Daniel Moreno last year, this is another bloodletting that the team has to compensate for. And it certainly won't be easy, because Alexander Kristoff alone was responsible for more than half of the victories this year. Hopes for 2017 rest on him and Zakarin. But will this squad be enough for a good season?

The new team Katusha-Alpecin for next year 🚴‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/4KFBSppYqL

— zakarin ilnur (@IlnurZakarin) 3 December 2016

Tony Martin will certainly not only have committed the team leadership as a good time trialist. The German himself hopes to be able to play a better role in the classics in the future. The only question is what terrain that should be on, because Kristoff is the clear captain in the flat races and Zakarin is ready when it gets hilly. Either way: These three well-known pilots will have to do it for Katusha-Alpecin in 2017, because the row behind them is definitely not one of the winning candidates. Otherwise, the team only seems to be equipped with the typical helpers. The top talents certainly include 22-year-old Matvey Mamykin, Jhonatan Restrepo and Nils Politt. But will they be able to make the big leap in 2017? A clear improvement in performance can be expected from Rein Taaramäe and Simon Spilak. These two could provide the results needed should the top trio falter. If that doesn't happen either, 2017 could be Katusha's worst season.