Poels and Teunissen get additional reinforcement and Vinokourov comes up with new team name
Cycling
Astana Qazaqstan wants to pull away from the relegation zone by 2025. Alexandre Vinokourov's formation is bringing in four new staff members, the most famous of whom is Alex Dowsett. The Briton will fulfill his first role as an ex-cyclist in the peloton with the Kazakh team.
In addition to Dowsett, Helmut Dollinger, Manuel Crespo, and Morgan Saussine will join the team. They are all brought in as specialists for the Performance Group. "Alex, a former professional cyclist and track world hour record holder, will focus on optimizing rider positioning on the bike, testing technical equipment, and preparing for time trials," explained team boss Vinokourov. "Given recent project developments, including in the technical domain, I believe Alex is an invaluable addition, bringing deep expertise in biomechanics and aerodynamics. He understands speed and high-performance cycling."
Dowsett is best known for his world hour record. In 2015, he improved Rohan Dennis' record by nearly 500 meters. Six years later, he tried again, but at 54,555 kilometers, he fell half a kilometer short of breaking the record then held by Victor Campenaerts. He was also twice the best in a stage of the Giro d'Italia: In 2020, he scored a victory after a superb solo, and in 2013, he was the strongest in a time trial. His performances on the time trial bike have convinced Astana that The Tiger is the man to push the formation's performance to the next level.
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Astana must make progress (with new name) in coaching, fitness and data
Dollinger, an Austrian ex-pro, is a coach who has had several riders under his wing. Now, he will focus on Astana Qazaqstan. Crespo will strengthen the team in the areas of strength and fitness. "This was a position we were missing in our group, so we sought an expert in this area. I'm pleased Manuel is joining our project. He will be responsible not only for the physical preparation of our athletes but will also work on injury prevention." Morgan Saussine, a data analyst, also joins the formation.
These are the next steps in a complete metamorphosis of the team, intending to rise in the UCI Team Ranking in 2025 to secure a WorldTour license for the 2026-2028 period. Vinokourov acquired 12 (!) new riders, including Dutchmen Wout Poels, Mike Teunissen, and Darren van Bekkum. It is all made possible by Chinese money from xds carbon tech, which obviously will also have a prominent place on the new jersey. La Gazzetta dello Sport knows that Vinokourov's formation will soon be called XdS-Astana Qazaqstan, and carbon tech may also be incorporated. That will be quite a mouthful...
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024