Dani Navarro to ride for KATUSHA ALPECIN in 2019 27.08.2018: Dani Navarro returns to the WorldTour in a two-year agreement with Team KATUSHA ALPECIN after riding for pro-continental Cofidis for six years. Navarro, 35, specializes as a general classification rider and is known

Dani Navarro returns to the WorldTour in a two-year agreement with Team KATUSHA ALPECIN after riding for pro-continental Cofidis for six years. Navarro, 35, specializes as a general classification rider and is known for his strong climbing abilities.



"It was time for me to move to another team, just to give myself a new impulse. The fact that KATUSHA ALPECIN was interested in me and that I know many people in that team makes me look forward to this transfer. I am not a winner, but I have proved my value in all my previous teams.



I will work with pleasure for Ilnur Zakarin, knowing that I will get my chance, too, from time to time. This season I proved I am not too old for this. I have already ridden many Grand Tours in my career, but not many times more than one per season.




That’s why I am sure I still have some years left to ride at the highest level of cycling. In my head I still have a lot of freshness. Now already I look forward to 2019,” said Dani Navarro.



Asturian rider Dani Navarro rode much of his career in the service of Alberto Contador before heading up his own team in 2013. Top career results include a ninth place in the Tour de France (2013), tenth overall in the 2014 Vuelta a España after winning Stage 13 and participating in 17 Grand Tours.




General Manager José Azevedo looks forward to working with Dani Navarro: “We know he will help make the group around Ilnur Zakarin stronger. He’s a rider with a lot of experience and he’s already raced much of his career riding support for big riders, like Alberto Contador.



His level is still good – this year he finished top 10 in the Dauphiné and in La Route d'Occitanie he was second. He has shown us he’s a good climber where we expect him to be with Ilnur. But his work will not be 100% for Ilnur.




In certain races he will have chances for himself, especially in the mountains. I’ve known Dani for more than 10 years and he was one of the first persons who came to mind when thinking of possibilities to work with Ilnur.”
 
 
 
 


Philippe Maertens  , Photo © Getty Images