Katusha general manager Viatcheslav Ekimov has told Cyclingnews that his team will have a major second sponsor for the next season. Even if he does not give the name or the nationality of the company involved, he explained that the company will join Katusha team for a three-year period.

"We’re currently working on a sponsorship commitment and that will be decided very soon. Probably in the next week or two,” Ekimov explained. "Katusha will continue, that we know, but we’ll also have another big secondary sponsor. The goal is to be an international team so I can say it’s not a Russian sponsor. We’re looking at another three-year commitment."

While Alexander Kristoff and Ilnur Zakarin are under contract, leader Joaquim Rodriguez will be free at the end of this season. "We’re not in a rush to sign anyone yet. There’s no panic. First we need to know what we’ll have and then we’ll talk to the riders. We need to increase the group around Kristoff. He has a contract. Then we’ll think about doing that with Zakarin, as he has a contract. We’re also looking for some young riders, and to develop them. There are a few names, for sure, and we’re in touch with agents but we can’t say more than that. I don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves."