Team KATUSHA is excited to announce it has reached an agreement with 22-year-old Mads Würtz Schmidt who is the reigning U23 time trial world champion. In 2015 Würtz Schmidt obtained his second world title in Richmond, Virginia. Earlier, in 2011, he was already junior world champion. The Danish rider will ride for Team KATUSHA in 2017 and 2018.

This season Mads Würtz Schmidt won the U23 Danish National Road as well as Time Trial Championships and took the overall victory in the Belgian Triptique des Monts et Châteaux stage race. Last month he won the TT and finished third in the Tour of Denmark, surrounded by all pro riders, and took the award as the Best Young Rider, also.

"This is really a dream come true. I felt from the beginning that I should not sign immediately after my world title. It was good to wait for another year. When Team KATUSHA knocked on my door, I felt it was the right moment and the right team. It is all about the right choice. It immediately felt good to me. I am proud to be part of one of the best WorldTour teams," said Mads Würtz Schmidt.

The signing of Mads Würtz Schmidt is an illustration of Team KATUSHA’s growing focus on signing young and international riders.

"More new signings will follow in the near future but I can only say that we are really thrilled with Mads coming to our team. We believe in him and will give him time to grow. By winning Paris-Roubaix as a junior but also by winning stage races as well as top time trials, he has shown he is a rider capable of everything. He will come to the team with the right teammates and staff around him," said Team KATUSHA General Manager Viatcheslav Ekimov.

"I have a lot of expectations. Michael Mørkøv has told me how good the atmosphere is in this team. I will feel at home very soon, he assured me. The fact that more young guys are coming makes me comfortable, too," concluded Mads Würtz Schmidt.

Team KATUSHA will announce more signings in the coming days/weeks.