Joaquím Rodriguez will lead Team Katusha in Italian stage race Tirreno-Adriatico and sets sights on overall victory.

Recently Rodriquez threatened to walk out on his Russian team if it failed to secure a WorldTour license. Subsequently the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the team’s appeal against the decision of the UCI to deny Katusha a WorldTour license on ethical grounds. Consequently Katusha is part of the Tirreno-Adriatico race that kicks off today with Rodriquez as its leader.

Rodriquez will aim to improve on his sixth place overall from last year, when he also claimed the fifth stage.

Rodriquez will be joined by, among others, compatriot and brother in arms, Daniel Moreno, who’ll be vying for a stage win.

Katusha enters the Tirreno-Adriatico with the following line-up: Maxim Belkov, Pavel Brutt, Vladimir Isaychev, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Daniel Moreno, Luca Paolini, Joaquím Rodriguez and Angel Vicioso.