Joaquim Rodriguez to extend his stay with Team Katusha
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver is under contract with Team Katusha by the end of 2013 season and the cyclist noted earlier that he will not consider extending his contract with the Russian team beyond 2013.
The decision came when the team decided to replace its Manager Hans-Michael Holczer with Viatcheslav Ekimov and the Spaniard was made his decision after winning the Tour of Lombardy in September.
However, Rodriguez is now considering extending his stay with Team Katusha as reported by EFE news agency.
“We’re already signed up for 2013, and with the change of manager, I guess everything will be better,” he said.
“We’re negotiating to continue in 2014 and I think and believe that there will be no problem because the negotiations are quite positive. There’s nothing signed yet, but you can almost say that it’s a ‘yes’”.
Joaquim marked his professional debut with Team ONCE-Eroski in 2001 and stayed with the side by the end of 2003 season.
He joined Team Sauner Duval-Prodir (2004-05), Team Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears (2006-09) and accepted a three year deal from the Russian outfit, Team Katusha in 2010.
Rodriguez helped the team with his storming performances throughout the past three seasons and has been the team’s top performer.
He finished first overall at the 2010 UCI World Tour rankings with a total number of 561 UCI points to his credit, third in 2011 with 446 points and occupied the first overall spot once again at the 2011 UCI World Tour rankings with as many as 692 points
in his bag.
The Spaniard overcame the 2010 Tour de France winner, Bradley Wiggins with an impressive lead of 91 UCI points after his all-round performance all through the season.
After missing out at the Tour de France during 2010 and 2011 seasons, Rodriguez is optimistic to return to the French race in the 2013 season, which will be only his second appearance at the Tour de France.
The cyclist have several top performances to his credit but one top podium spot that he still has not yet climbed is that of the Grand Tours, that is right, Rodriguez has never claimed an overall victory any of the three Grand Tours of the year.
He finished second overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia and third overall at the Vuelta a Espana 2012 and hopes to improve his performance in the season ahead.
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