As a Russian team with a Russian set of sponsors, Denis Menchov has long been a logical target for the Katusha squad. It wants to win the Tour de France with a rider from that country and his track record marks him out as clearly the best GC rider currently competing.
Now, general manager Andrei Tchmil has made it clear that the squad is interested in doing a deal with him. “There is no direct contact, but we certainly want to have him in our team,” he confirmed to De Telegraaf.
Menchov has been a professional since 2000, racing for four years with the Banesto team and then moving to Rabobank in 2004. He has remained there ever since and while he might opt to continue that association, could opt for a change prior to the end of his career.
If so, Tchmil hopes for a good response. When it last approached Menchov, the squad was stepping up a level and it was not fully clear how things would go. He believes that things have moved on well and that the time could be right. “Two years ago we made him an offer,” he said, “but Denis was not really confident in the design of our Russian cycling team. If is now open to a transfer, he must come to our team.”
The 32 year old Russian has won two Vueltas a España and took the 2009 Giro d’Italia. His best Tour de France performances came in 2008, when he was fourth overall, and 2006, when he was fifth and won a stage. When he is on form, he is both a strong time trialist and a climber.
He missed this year’s Giro in order to prepare as well as possible for the Tour de France. He’s had a quiet Dauphiné Libéré thus far but will have a good test of his condition in today’s time trial. Tchmil will be one of those watching his performance with particular interest.