Israel Cycling Academy joins WorldTour with takeover of Katusha
Canadian co-owner Sylvan Adams: "We are. Just. Getting. Started."
On Wednesday, Israel Cycling Academy officially bought out Katusha’s license to join the WorldTour for 2020. Over the weekend ICA purchased Katusha–which has been racing since 2009–from Russian UCI Management Committee member Igor Makarov, a member of the UCI Management Committee. The merger still needs to be approved by the UCI.
In a tweet, Canadian billionaire co-owner Sylvan Adams said, “I have stated for some time that ICA would be in the World Tour, sooner or later. I am excited that it is happening right away for next year’s season.”
ICA – WORLD TOUR BOUND. We are ready to step up. ICA and Katusha management signed an agreement. Full announcement: https://t.co/V6970af4mb pic.twitter.com/czVnyfaBbA
— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@YallaIsraelSUN) October 2, 2019
Adams was instrumental in getting the 2018 Giro d’Italia to begin with three stages in Israel. ICA was included as a wildcard team, with Canada’s Guillaume Boivin involved in early breakaways. This season, Boivin and Israel Cycling Academy returned to the Giro.
What does this mean for Israel Cycling Academy’s Canadians?
ICA has signed two new riders for next season, Dan Martin and Hugo Hofstetter, and has six returnees. Katusha will bring 11 riders to the team. This means that with a limit of 30 riders, Canada’s Boivin, Alexander Cataford or Ben Perry might get squeezed out, although with a Canadian co-owner the chances of no rider from the Great White North on next season’s squad are slim. If all three are retained, 2020 ICA would have the most Canadians on a WorldTour team. In 2017 Orica-BikeExchange had a Canuck duo of Christian Meier and Svein Tuft.
The team will continue to don its blue and white kit in 2020 with its apparel Katusha brand.
Adams has great confidence in the Israel-registered team to rise to its new level: “We are. Just. Getting. Started.”
