Gazprom-RusVelo manager sets March 27 deadline to save team

TORRALBA DEL PINAR SPAIN FEBRUARY 02 Ilnur Zakarin of Russia and Team Gazprom Rusvelo during the team presentation prior to the 73rd Volta A La Comunitat Valenciana 2022 Stage 1 a 1667km stage from Les Alqueries to Torralba Del Pinar 735m VCV2022 on February 02 2022 in Torralba Del Pinar Spain Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
Gazprom-RusVelo riders, including Ilnur Zakarin (centre) at the Volta A La Comunitat Valenciana (Image credit: Dario BelingheriGetty Images)

Gazprom-RusVelo manager Renat Khamidulin has said that the team will shutter for good if the squad is unable to return to competition or find new sponsorship by March 27.

The team, currently sponsored by the Russian state-majority owned energy consortium, was forced to stop competing at the start of the month after the UCI implemented a competition ban on Russian and Belarusian teams and events.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.

Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix –  'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.