Two days ago Biciclismo reported that Katusha rider Xavier Florencio had ended his career and will take on a role as sports director on the Russian team. Today the team has confirmed the rumours, announcing that Florencio will work as an assistant sports director in 2014 before taking on a full sports director role one year later.

Earlier this week, Katusha announced that they have finalized their 30-rider roster for the 2014 season but one name was surprisingly missing from the list. Former winner of Clasica San Sebastian Xavier Florencio is not set to be part of the team next year but at the time no explanation was given.

The surprise was made even greater by the fact that Florencio and compatriots Joaquim Rodriguez, Daniel Moreno, Angel Vicioso and Alberto Losada all signed contracts until 2015 with the team earlier this year. In May, the Spanish armada on Katusha looked likely to continue in the near future.

Biciciclismo reported that Florencio had decided to accept an offer to become sports director on the team to make room for Vladimir Gusev. The Russian faced an uncertain future as there was no room for him on the roster that already contained the maximum number of riders. With Florencio having ended his career, Gusev will ride for Katusha for another season.

Katusha has now confirmed the rumours, stating that Florencio is mainly ending his career due to health problems and a wish to be closer to his daughter Lola who was born in September. The team also confirmed that he will indeed become a sports director, albeit first in 2015. In 2014, he will be working as an assistant director to gather the necessary experience.

Florencio turned professional with ONCE in 2001 and stayed in his native Spain until 2006 when he joined the French Bouygues Telecom  team. He enjoyed the highlight of his sporting career in his first year with the squad when he won his only professional victory in the prestigious Clasica San Sebastian but he failed to win another race later in his career.

He joined Cervelo Test Team when that team was created prior to the 2009 season and joined Geox for the 2011 season. When that team suddenly folded very late in the season, he faced early retirement but was thrown a lifeline by Rodriguez who facilitated his move to Katusha. He has been an important domestique for the Spanish star for the last two years.

Florencio rode his final race in the Vuelta a Burgos in August.