The Israel Cycling Academy has completed its acquisition of the Katusha-Alpecin team and is awaiting confirmation from the UCI on securing a spot in the 2020 WorldTour.

The Israeli team has bought out the existing Katusha management company, so the 2020 rider contract is valid and the newly formed team can secure one of the 20 positions on the UCI World Tour for the next three years.

Sylvain Adams, the billionaire owner of the Israel Cycling Academy, is eager to step up to the World Tour level and compete in the Tour de France as soon as possible, and the future of the Katusha-Alpecin team is in doubt as Alpecin and bike sponsor The future of the Katusha-Alpecin team has been in doubt since the summer when Alpecin and bike sponsor Canyon announced they were cutting off their support.

Negotiations between the two teams have been underway for several weeks, with Katusha-Alpecin's eligibility for the 2020-2022 World Tour seemingly the final obstacle.

However, a deal was reached over the weekend, with the Israel Cycling Academy purchasing Katusha Alpecin's management company from Igor Makarov, a Russian oligarch and member of the UCI Management Committee.

"I have long stated that sooner or later ICA will be competing in the World Tour. I'm excited to see it happen so soon for next year's season."

"I would like to thank the management of Katusha and its owner Igor Makarov. Igor's contribution to our sport is impressive and he will continue to support our sport."

The Israeli team signed Irishman Dan Martin in August, allowing it to retain several Katusha riders with contracts remaining, including 2019 Paris-Roubaix runner-up Nils Pollitt. The team also re-signed Tour of Utah winner Ben Hellmans last month.

The new team will welcome riders from the 2019 Israel Cycling Academy, but not all riders from both 2019 teams will be able to compete due to the 30-rider limit.

Pollitt is obligated to honor his 2020 contract despite interest from several teams after finishing second in Paris-Roubaix; the 25-year-old German rider is expected to lead the newly formed team in the spring classics.

"We have several new riders, including some from the current Katusha team. We're just getting started," Adams said.

Ilnur Zakarin will move to the CCC team in 2020, while Nathan Haas has already decided to move to Cofidis.

Enrico Battaglin, Yente Biermans, Jens Debusschere, Alex Dowsett, Reto Horenstein, Daniel Navarro, Dmitry Strahov, Harry Tanfield, Mads Wurz Schmidt, and Rick Zabel are signed 2020 contracts with Katusha Alpecin, but some of the players may be let go if they receive offers from other teams.

The Israel Cycling Academy's 2020 contracted athletes include Matteo Badilatti, Italian sprinter Davide Timolai, Itamar Einhorn, Hugo Hofstetter, Christo Neilands, Mikkel Raim, Tom Van Asbroeck, among others.

Katusha Alpecin manager José Azevedo told Cycling News in September that he would not remain as team manager for the new organization, and that Israel Cycling Academy manager Kjell Carlström He will lead the new team. The former Finnish professional now faces a race against time to complete the UCI World Tour registration process.

"The team has grown organically each year, both organizationally and athletically, and I feel ready for this new challenge," said Carlstrom. This team has great chemistry and I'm proud of what we've accomplished together. I'm really looking forward to next year. "

Team management has made it clear that maintaining the team's Israeli identity is a top priority, so the team will have several Israeli athletes, including Guy Sagiv, the first Israeli to complete a Grand Tour at the 2018 Giro d'Italia. It is likely that the team will be accompanied by an Israeli rider. Other Israeli riders include Roy Goldstein, Guy Niv, and Omer Goldstein.

Ron Baron, co-owner and co-founder of the Israel Cycling Academy, said he is excited to have an Israeli athlete race for the Israeli WorldTour team.

"We are confident that this step will strengthen our core vision of developing Israeli cycling on the world stage," Baron said.

"It will be very satisfying for me to see an Israeli rider in the Tour de France next season.

The team, which has been riding De Rosa's bikes for the past two seasons, has not yet revealed who will be the bike sponsor or what the new organization will be called, but Cycling News understands that Israeli identity will be paramount and the blue and white color scheme will be maintained .

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