Viatcheslav Ekimov, the Katusha team manager, attempts to secure the long-term future of the team and hopes to keep his WorldTour licence. Indeed, his licence will expire at the end of this season. According to Cyclingnews, the Russian explained his team will be sponsored by Katusha from 2016.

"This year we started a new procedure with the licence so we have no problem with sponsor commitments and we have a bright future. We have a contract with the sponsors until the end of the 2015 season. Alexander Kristoff signed a deal until the end of 2017 but I think we’ll extend the team contract beyond 2016 by the end of this season", he told Cyclingnews.

With Alexander Kristoff, Joaquim Rodriguez is the main leader of the russian team. But the Spanish rider will be free at the end of this season. "We’re currently talking to Purito. We’ve offered him a proposal and the situation looks good. We don’t know the length of the deal but I’d like to keep him in the team for at least one more year."

But the staff would like to sign another riders in order to developp the future. "We’re currently talking to a few guys but young neo-pros because we want to develop riders for the future. We have experience and if we can keep Purito I think that we’re complete. We don’t want to have too many Grand Tour riders in the same team. It can interrupt things. I’d like to clear things up with Purito first and then we’ll see what we can do."

"He’s 35 but I think he’s still at a good age in terms of performances. He still dreams of winning a Grand Tour and we’re focusing on that with him."