Poels and Teunissen get additional reinforcement and Vinokourov comes up with new team name

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.

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...