As a raft of team sponsorships are announced for 2011, German bicycle manufacturer has switched its technical support t﷽o Russian ProTour outfit Kaಞtusha for the next three years.

After a recent meetinౠg between Focus managing director Mathias Seidler and Team Katusha president Andrei Tchmil, the German company decided to continue its partici👍pation in the ProTour, albeit with a different squad.

Over the past two years Focus has been a technical partner of Team Milram, although it's well known that the German squad has encountered issues with finding an ongoing headline sponsor, w𝔍ith no company stepping into the void left by the withdrawal of dairy company Milram.

The withdrawal of Focus adds to speculation that the squad will not exist next season; with ProTour li♔cence recipients to be announced soon, the possible cessation of the German team will be good news for the likes of Fly V Australia, Team Geox and BMC Racing, just three squads seeking a ProTour permit for 2011.

Focus simply wants to be involved in the highest echelon of the sport, and it believes Katusha offers that opportunity. "Our aim is a long-term partnership which will allow us to further broaden our excellent experiences in the ProTour over the last two years🐠 internationally," sa𒁏id Seidler.

While Belgian company Ridley has sponsored K✅atusha since its advent as a ProTour team, Focus considers this recent move as a coup for the German manufacturer, with the likes of Joaquin Rodriguez and Fi🐽lippo Pozzato on board its machines for the next three years. "We are investing quite deliberately in a strong international team," said Focus marketing director Herwig Reus. "We hope to achieve great sporting success with this team and to prove beyond doubt what our bikes are capable of.

"Needless to say, these expectations go hand🦩 in hand with our aim to further develop our markets abroad and increase demand for o⛎ur products."