Written by TEAM BOBYN at 14:23 14/11-2025
Team Bobyn are sad to announce the retirement of Saveliy "The Rush" Rusanov a superb cobblist supremo - continuing the legacy of great TB cobblists.
Born in Lozuvatka in Dnipropetrovsk from a family of a long line of bricklayers. A deviant and rebellious child - he rarely went to school, frequently in trouble and had no interest in his family business.
One day while running away from a local security guard he run into the path of a peloton of riders in the WT Lozuvatka - Kryvyi Rih race. He was knocked out immediately and in a coma for two weeks.
When he came to - cycling was all that he think about - and since it was the cobbles of Lozuvatka was the last thing he saw before he became conscious - he decided to become a cobblist.
Despite the rest of the Ukraine wanting to lynch Rusanov for impacting their race and stopping Filip Avandeyev from getting into the top 10, Avandeyev - a veteran of the Ukraine National took pity and took him on as his private batman. Very soon, Avandeyev saw a special talent in Rusanov and recommended to the TB management that they should sign him on.
In S59 at the age of 20, Rusanov was then signed up for TB on Youth teerms. He spent most of the first season, cleaning and fixing bikes and training. Indeed he did not race a single race for the whole season. Then it all changed in S60. He was thrown into the deep end - 19 races and incredibly in his first season picking up 3 places including a noteworthy 5th in the Koersel CBGP.
A purist cobblist - Rusanov was reserved for the tough cobble races but fresh, determined and with a iron will he developed a unique ability - rushing through poor roads or cobbles with little concern. He quickkly came to attention of the Ukraine NT and secured his first cap in S61.
This was cemented the following year (S62) in one of his greatest seasons - securing 3 podiums, narrowly missing out on his first win on home soil in Lviv and 6 places. He was subsequently voted Fans Favourite.
From hereon The Rush become a dependable and reliable cobblist extraordinaire - regularly securing placements and podiums including his favourite WT race in the Wexford (2 podiums) and a succession of successes on local roads as well over the next 3 seasons until a serious crash in S66 resulted in an extended period out of the saddle and limited rides.
Slowly rehabilitated in S67 - the following year The Rush roared back with two close seconds on home soil a podium and a placement earning him a fans favourite award from the TB faithful in reward of his resiliance. He went one-better in S69 securing his first win - Antwerp - Schoten, 2 podiums and 3 placements earning him the accolade of Rider of the Season.
This seemed a peak as the new of the death of his two parents in a car crash (ironically on some badly paved roads) his form took a wobble as he failed to register any half decent performances - except in his favourite Wexford WT race. This continued for 4 seasons - despite a PB performance home terrirory at the WT Lozuvatka where he picked up a 7th place. A tearful Rusanov, broke down to the world's press dedicating his place to his family.
Age and mental depression started to take it's toil on Rusanov - he seemed non-interested in races outside Ukraine and his performances suffered. Rare glimpses of brilliance resurfaced when he raced in Ukraine - his beloved home country. In a fit of suicidal despair he was brought back from the brink by manager Barry, persuaded to complete one more season, represent his country in the CON - and overcame his bugbear with two great podium finishes including one on home soil and decided to retire on a high - then married and settled with his young family on the outskirts of
Lozuvatka.
A super dependable rider that leaves an irrepressible legacy on his rides in Ukraine.
CAREER SUMMARY
Races: 239 (225 for TB)
Wins: 1
Podiums: 16
Best Tour GC: S63 D4 LA COUPE 15th*
Classics: S62 3rd D6 Budapest Meeting Point #50
Placements: 26
48th S74 The Lucas Loudon Stones Classic (ND)
Highest ever Ranking: 548th (S62)
International Caps: 14
Best Win (as a TB rider): S69 D5 Antwerp - Schoten
Best Podium Performance: S68 2nd D4 Lviv - Stryi #57
Highest ever Divisional Performance:
S62 (D3) 56 Cobbles of Astana #55
Best Div 1 N/A
Best Div 1.1 N/A
Best Div 2 N/A
Best Div3 As Above
Best Div4 As above
Best Div5 As above
Best Div6 2nd S69 Beauvais - Amiens #57
Best Div7 5th S64 Brisbane Cobbles #47
Best Div8 N/A
Div9-Div 11 N/A
Ukraine Club Records:
S62 D4 2nd Lviv - Stryi Rusanov
S68 D5 2nd Chernivtsi - Ostrytsia - Rusanov
Best Performance: N/A
Best International Performance:
S72 7th WTB Lozuvatka - Kryvyi Rih (WT) #42
S63 3rd WTC Wexford - Dublin (WT) #21
Best CON performance. S74 31st Paris #65
Comrade Cup Title x 3 (S74 (1 cap) & S72 (1 cap) & joint winners 1 caps)
U23 Honours - N/A
Tour Record (* Club Record)
D4 LA COUPE Av. Pos (S63) 26th
Best stage performance (S63) 7th Parmi les Camps Touaregs #15
GC S63 15th*
D6 ORYX Av Pos (S70) 65th
Best stage performance (S65)18th St. Oshakati – Namutoni #24
D6 JAWLAT Av. Pos (S61) 114th
Best stage performance (S61) 94th Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve
D7 EL TOCORORO (S61) Av Pos 59th
Best stage performance (S61) Sancti Spiritus - Cuatro Vientos #2
Subscribers: 6
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Comments
225 races for the team. Big bravo!
Not too many riders reach such a 'cult status'
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