Gazprom - Rusvelo have two weeks left to keep team afloat

Gazprom - Rusvelo are on the hunt for new sponsors that would be able to keep the team afloat. The structure needs a four million euro investment and either knew sponsorship or a deal with the UCI, which have not been reached, after it's license was removed as a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"For this moment we can see that we have some interesting contacts already and with a real interest in this project. But of course, we would prefer to have the signature on the document so we can say that it was a successful search," said team general manager Renat Khamidulin. 

He's stressed that not only the team's riders would be left without a team, but also around 100 total team personnel: "We are more worried that most part of the riders and staff will be left without any work. For example, there are some three riders who can join other teams and we will not, of course, make them stay in the team. We would let them go.

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"We have we agreed with everyone that until 27 of March we are as a team and we're all together," Khamidulin said, insisting that the possibility that the team stays afloat is real, but a very challenging task.

"At the start of the season, we took some good results with two victories and some top-five placings. I know if the team now find a new partner, a new sponsor, that it will be a successful season," he concluded.