As Russian rider Denis Menchov departs the Rabobank team for Team Geox he takes two of his favourite domestiques with him. Colombian Mauricio Ardila and Menchov’s compatriot Dmitriy Kozontchuk will follow the Russian to Mauro Gianetti’s team.
Menchov has ridden for Rabobank since 2005, where he has won the Vuelta a España twice (2005 and 2007) and the Giro d’Italia once (2009); he also finished third in the Tour de France (200X and this year). His leaving the Dutch team is described by team manager Erik Breukink as “the end of a beautiful period”.
31-year-old Ardila has been with Rabobank since 2006; his own personal results have been few and far between, but has been a key mountain domestique for Menchov in his two later Grand Tour victories; although he did not ride in support of either of the Russian’s Tour de France podiums.
Kozontchuk, aged 26, has spent his entire career in the orange colours of Rabobank, having turned professional with the under-23 Continental team in 2005. Like Ardila, he has had very few personal results but was also part of Menchov’s Giro d’Italia winning team last year.
While Rabobank is doubtless disappointed to see the departure of its most successful rider ever, the team wishes him well with the next phase of his career.
“We are grateful for all the successes that having Denis with us has brought,” said Breukink, “to win three Grand Tours means that you are at the very top. Denis leaving a great impression behind him, he is a silent but warm personality. We wish him every success in his new team.”
All three rider still have the chance to get further glory in the orange jersey of Rabobank as all three are in the team’s selection for this month’s Vuelta a España.