Viatcheslav Ekimov has revived the talk of a WorldTour race in Russia. According to the general manager of Katusha, Crimea would be the ideal place to get a stage race at that level.
According to Ekimov, the peninsula in the Black Sea which has been the center of lots of political controversy in 2014, satisfies all requirements for a great race.
"For some time I have said that Russia would have a unique opportunity to organize a WorldTour race there," he said according to BiciCiclismo ."The situation is improving."
The disappearance of the Chinese WorldTour race in Beijing could be the key.
"Next year the Tour of Beijing is no longer be part of the WorldTour so it seems pretty clear to me that you could do a race in Crimea in October. The weather is great and the hotels are available. I'm sure the riders would come if there are no sanctions as we saw it with the Formula One race in Sochi," he said.
While being part of Ukraine, Crimea used to play host to many riders due to its favorable climate. They used to do races or train in the ice temperatures. Now, the political situation is complicated and the riders are no longer using the peninsula as training ground.
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