Moscow, Russia (PRWEB) December 17, 2012
At this time the Katusha Team has no information regarding the reasons for the decision taken by the UCI to reject its request for the team registration in the first division. According to Vitaly Abramov, Katusha Team Press Secretary, "team management, riders and staff are extremely surprised by the lack of expressed justification for such a decision made by the UCI." Earlier the team, which possesses rider №1 in the world and has finished the season in second place in the UCI World Tour ranking, was informed that it satisfies all possible required criteria for participation in the first division. In fact, the only Russian team, where the majority of riders are Russian citizens, has been excluded from participation in races of the World Tour. This decision of the UCI has suspended Russia as a country from participation in cycling competitions at the highest level.
The management of the Katusha Team, its riders and staff, are surprised by such a quick change of decision, lack of coordination inside the UCI press-service and a complete absence of reasons for such a fast and seemingly contradictory decision.
Mr. Abrams also stated that "the UCI which has been established in order to protect the interests of the riders worldwide, on the contrary by its actions completely violates the canons of sports ethics and causes irreparable moral and psychological damage to the athletes before the start of the new season, and the delay in explaining the reasons for the decision only demonstrates the apparent weakness of these reasons."
In the near term the management of the Russian team, Katusha intends to investigate thoroughly this incident, in order to give all possible explanations to the riders and staff of the team, as well as to seek a future strategy.
In addition, the Katusha Team is not retreating from the plans that have been made for the next season and is preparing for the official team presentation, which is scheduled for mid-December 2012 in Italy.
The Russian team intends to defend its interests and those of its team members by all appropriate means and methods.
Katusha, if necessary, is prepared to fight, and remains stronger than ever.