Katusha is preparing themselves for a busy week that will see the Russian team compete in two important stage races. While Joaquim Rodriguez, Daniel Moreno, and Alexander Kristoff will be some of several stars in the Tour of Oman, Simon Spilak and Sergei Chernetskii will look to impress in the Volta ao Algarve.

It's a busy week in professional cycling, with four important stage races taking place in Asia and Europe. Katusha is one of several teams that will participate in more than one race as they will send strong squads for both the Tour of Oman and the Volta ao Algarve.

The core of the roster for the Omani race will be comprised of riders that did last week's Tour of Qatar, with sprinter Alexander Kristoff having stayed in the Middle East with fellow sprinter Rudiger Selig and classics riders Viacheslav Kuznetsov, Vladimir Isaychev,, Gatis Smukulis and Aliaksandr Kuschynski. They have been joined by arguable the two biggest names on the team, Joaquim Rodriguez and Daniel Moreno.

The race is a mountainous affair and completely different from last week's fast racing in Qatar. This has prompted several teams to bring in a number of climbers and Katusha is no exception.

Last year Rodriguez won the queen stage to the top of the Green Mountain but it is doubtful whether he will be able to repeat that feat. He is still building his condition for his later objectives and has not yet given indications that he is approaching his best form. Moreno has had his preparations been set back by a training crash in late December.

The Tour of Oman starts on Tuesday and runs until Sunday.

On Wednesday another block of Katusha riders will start the Volta ao Algarve. With a time trial and a summit finish on the Alto do Malhao, the race has a diverse route that will suit in-form GC riders Sergeii Chernetskii and Simon Spilak. Both performed strongly in the recent Challenge Mallorca.

Climbers Alberto Losada and Eduard Vorganov will be further GC option while Alexey Tsatevich will target success in the three sprint stages. The team is completed by classics specialist Alexandr Kolobnev, Giro stage winner Maxim Belkov and loyal domestique Dmitry Kozontchuk.

Katusha for the Tour of Oman

Joaquim Rodriguez, Daniel Moreno, Vladimir Isaychev, Viacheslav Kuznetsov, Alexander Kristoff, Rudiger Selig, Gatis Smukulis and Aliaksandr Kuchynski

Katusha for the Volta ao Algarve

Maxim Belkov, Sergei Chernetckii, Alexander Kolobnev, Dmitriy Kozonchuk, Alberto Losada, Simon Spilak, Alexey Tsatevich and Eduard Vorganov