The flurry of contract announcements for Tinkoff Saxo this week has continued today with the news that two more riders have inked deals with the team. Russian riders Ivan Rovny and Nikolay Trusov have each agreed two year contracts and will therefore remain with the team until the end of 2015.
Rovny has previously worked for the team’s new owner Oleg Tinkov, having been part of his Tinkoff Restaurants and Tinkoff Credit Systems team between 2006 and 2008. He then raced for a year with the squad’s successor Katusha, before two years with Team RadioShack and one with RusVelo.
He moved to Ceramica Fondriest in 2013 and had his best year to date, clocking up a spate of top five finishes, including second in the Giro della Toscana, third in the Giro dell’Appennino and fourth in the Tre Valli Varesine.
The 26 year old welcomes the chance to return to the WorldTour level.
“I am pleased to have another chance at a big team. I believe, we have the best bikes and equipment available and on top of that a great group of staff, managers and directors to work with us,” he said. “And knowing Oleg Tinkov, I believe this team will be very successful.”
Compatriot Trusov is two years older and has followed the same early career path, spending three years within the Tinkoff structure and then racing for Katusha. He was with the latter squad for three years and also moved across to RusVelo prior to the 2012 season.
His path and that of Rovny diverged there, with the older rider competing with the De Rijke-Shanks team for a season. His 2013 was a relatively quiet one, although he was eighth overall in the Volta ao Alentejo and ninth in the 1.1-ranked Riga – Jurmala GP.
He’s eager to seize the opportunity he has been presented with. “For two years I wasn't part of the World Tour, so naturally I'm just thrilled that I'm now with Tinkoff-Saxo. For me it's a big chance to return to the big races, and after being part of the first team camp I'm convinced we have the setup and structure needed to achieve the team's goal to become the best in the world in the coming years.
“I look very much forward to get the new season started.”
The team’s former owner and new general manager Bjarne Riis said that he believes both will be valuable members of the team.
“Both of them attended our recent training camp in Grand Canaria, and I got to know them as two great guys,” he said. “Ivan is coming of a strong season on Continental level. I think he deserves another shot at World Tour-level, and I expect he can be a great asset for us in hilly races and a stage races like Giro d'Italia.
“Nikolay is a big and strong guy, and I see him as a rider who could fit into our Classic team, and also a rider who has the ability to take part in a sprinter's train. I look forward to working with them.”
Today’s news about the duo make them the seventh and eighth riders to be confirmed this week as signing contracts with the team.
On Monday Tinkoff Saxo announced that Swiss rider Oliver Zaugg and the Italian Matteo Tosatto would remain with the squad, with Tuesday bringing similar news about the Danish rider Nicki Sørensen and the Dutchman Karsten Kroon.
On Wednesday Sergio Paulinho and Bruno Pires were also confirmed as having extended their current deals.