The plan was to hang up his wheels after the Olympic Games road race in August, but Joaquim Rodriguez may have to suit up and race again for Katusha this season.
While the Spaniard had hoped for an early farewell, Katusha seem determined to make the most of his services, with his contract expiring on December 31.
As such, Rodriguez has been lined up for four more races this season, including the Giro di Lombardia - a race he won in successive years in 2012 and 13.
"If the team requires me to participate in the remaining races on the calendar, I have no choice but to get back on the bike and participate, whether I like it or not. We'll see," Rodriguez told AFP.
"The decision I took was to stop cycling after the Olympic Games, but my contract with Team Katusha is until December 31st."
As well as the year's final Monument, Rodriguez is scheduled to ride Milano-Torino, the Giro del Piemonte and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Tour.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Where it all started — Sepp Kuss’ Vuelta win means everything to his hometown of Durango, Colorado
The town of Durango is ecstatic. Its hometown hero, Sepp Kuss, finally got his shot and made it count, winning the Vuelta a España ahead of his team leaders, Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič.
-
Tweets of the week: GC Kuss rumbles on as Shimano stars in The Simpsons
The best cycling social media content from the past seven days
-
'It's not nice to lose in that way' - Tragic end for breakaway duo on stage six of the Giro d'Italia
Simon Clarke and Alessandro De Marchi had their dreams crushed with 200m to go in Napoli
-
Back to Africa: Chris Froome on going back to his roots, his future and cycling's new generation
He’s come full circle, but is there time for another loop? We talk to the four-time Tour champ about his and African cycling’s future
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
-
Chris Froome highlights dangers of long Covid after battle with virus
Four-time Tour de France champion warns of cardiovascular impact and says his VO2 max took a hit after illness
-
Alex Dowsett to retire from professional cycling
33-year-old Israel-Premier Tech rider says his future is still going to be on two wheels, just not in WorldTour
-
Dylan Teuns moves mid-season to Israel-PremierTech
Belgian rider moves to new team from Bahrain Victorious in unusual mid-season transfer
-
Chris Froome out of Tour de France after positive Covid-19 test result
Four-time winner and third on Alpe d’Huez stage forced to abandon on stage 18
-
'I’m going to keep pushing. I don’t know what my limits are': Chris Froome climbs to best result since 2018
Israel-Premier Tech rider finished third on stage 12 of the Tour de France to Alpe d'Huez
