Spanish cyclist to leave Katusha if barred from tour

• Katusha has filed suit with Court of Arbitration for Sport
• Cyclist was second in last year's Giro
• He has been with Katusha since 2010

MADRID (AP) — Spanish rider Joaquin Rodriguez says he'll leave team Katusha if the International Cycling Union doesn't retract its decision to reject the Russian outfit's application for the 2013 World Tour.

Rodriguez told Spanish sports daily Marca that "if Katusha is not on the World Tour I will change teams because I don't want to take a step backward."

Katusha has filed a suit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to seek admittance to the World Tour. If the UCI's decision is not overturned, then Katusha will have to rely on wild-card invitations to the Tour de France and other races.

The 33-year-old Rodriguez has been with Katusha since 2010. In 2012, he was runner-up in the Giro d'Italia and finished the Spanish Vuelta in third place.