With Chinese language carbon product producer XDS Carbon-Tech on board as a sponsor for 2025, Astana Qazaqstan could have new bikes, a number of new riders and a brand new identify for the approaching season – XdS (Carbon-Tech) – Astana Qazaqstan, La Gazzetta dello Sport stories.
It is the primary time for the reason that staff’s founding in 2007 that Astana, the staff’s state-funded sponsor, will not be the primary identify on their official title. The Shenzen-based firm has turn into a significant investor within the staff and is seeking to make “vital adjustments”.
The partnership was confirmed again in July on the Tour de France, after Cyclingnews broke information of the funding the week prior, with the brand new sponsorship arriving simply in time for Astana to struggle for his or her WorldTour spot in 2025.
Because it stands, they’re one of many two groups headed for relegation having ended the season on 13,608 factors for 2023-2024, nearly 5000 UCI factors away from Cofidis who’re ranked 18th – the ultimate place which can be granted a WT licence in 2026 at first of the following cycle.
Mark Cavendish has formally retired after reaching the record-breaking thirty fifth Tour de France stage win with Astana, nevertheless, their new price range has allowed them to herald the providers of 12 new riders for 2025.
Diego Ulissi, Wout Poels, Mike Teunissen and Sergio Higuita are anticipated to be the most important new factors scorers. In addition they signed Alberto Bettiol late within the 2024 season and the Italian can be a headline characteristic of their Classics squad.
It is not solely new riders however workers too, with former British professional Alex Dowsett becoming a member of as a efficiency engineer and Helmut Dollinger, Manuel Crespo, and Morgan Saussine additionally approaching board to bolster the teaching and information science workers.
Alexandr Vinokurov’s staff can also be prone to race on a Chinese language licence subsequent 12 months, with their new title sponsor additionally offering the gear after Astana parted methods with bike sponsor Wilier. Their new bikes are anticipated to return from XDS Carbon-Tech’s personal bike model and be the X-Lab AD9 aero bike and light-weight RS9.
“We’ve got been diligently trying to find an investor able to taking the staff to a brand new stage of improvement. We perceive that the staff and all the challenge as a complete will face some vital adjustments, however we’re prepared for this,” stated Vinokurov when Astana introduced the partnership.
“For the next seasons, XDS would be the strongest backup for the staff. We’ll ensure that the staff has very sufficient price range and the very best technical help,” stated Yancong Tan, CEO of XDS.
