🇳🇱 NEW RIDER: @WoutPoels Wout Poels is going to join our team for 2025 season: 📰👉 bit.ly/3AnoLB1 #AstanaQazaqstanTeam 📷 @SprintCycling
Surprise move: Wout Poels leaves Bahrain Victorious for Vinokourov's Astana Qazaqstan Team
CyclingMonday, 19 August 2024 at 12:09
In unexpected transfer news, Wout Poels will be moving from Bahrain Victorious to Astana Qazaqstan Team next year, as announced on Monday morning by his future team, where he has signed a one-year contract.
However, the transfer of the 36-year-old climber is not entirely surprising. After having already won stages in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, Poels aimed to complete the illustrious trilogy by winning a stage in the Giro d'Italia this year. The always cheerful rider from Limburg was disappointed when he was not selected for the Giro.
Can Poels join the illustrious trilogy club?
At Astana Qazaqstan Team, led by team manager Alexander Vinokourov, Poels could become one of the team's leaders. With Mark Cavendish likely to retire and Alexey Lutsenko set to leave for Israel-Premier Tech, Poels may take on a more prominent role. "Next year, I want to show the best of myself," Poels said in a statement on the Astana team website.
"I still have one cycling dream left, and that's to win a stage in the Giro," Poels emphasized once again. "That would put me on the list of riders who have won at least one stage in all three grand tours. That's what I'm hoping for. But of course, the team's goals come first. I'm looking forward to joining them. Plus, with Cees Bol and Ide Schelling, there are a few other Dutch guys on the team. It will be fun to race together."
"Wout is a strong rider who can race as a domestique but also fits into our strategy as a leader," said Vinokourov, clearly impressed with the Dutchman. "He often competes for victories and podium places in important stage races. Wout is truly an asset, especially in the mountains and in week-long stage races. I believe that in our team, Poels will have a great opportunity to prove himself and achieve his goals." Good luck, Wout!
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Latest Comments
- 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
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024