Why Poels chose Vinokourov over Bahrain after Giro and World Championship blow: "It does add up, of course"

For years, we could portray him in a Team Sky jersey, and just when we had become a bit familiar with Bahrain Victorious's jersey, Wout Poels chose to make some changes. Alexandre Vinokourov lured the 37-year-old Dutchman to Astana Qazaqstan for various reasons. Poels talks about it to IDLProCycling.com.

To say Poels has had an eventful year is an understatement. After winning a stage in the Tour de France in 2023, his big goal in 2024 was a stage victory in the Giro d'Italia. Then, he would have one in all three grand tours. Bahrain Victorious heard the request but pulled the plug at the last minute. No Giro for Poels, but the Tour ...

In the fall, a second blow on the calendar for Poels followed, who had already been looking forward to the World Championship in Zurich but was not chosen by the Dutch national coach. A transfer to Astana Qazaqstan these weeks cleared things up.

Read our Q&A below the photo!

Wout Poels on the World Championship, Astana and more

Has the disappointment of the World Championship subsided a bit? You were pretty heated about it your podcast...

"That has subsided by now, though. I watched the last eighty kilometers, and what Pogacar did there was impressive."

Had it been a World Championship for you in retrospect?

"I could have done well there, significantly to help the team. If you saw how quickly it was split open and what tactics were used, some gaps sometimes needed to be closed. But it is what it is, and in the end, we got an excellent winner. Everyone wishes Pogacar well, even though he has already won so much. He's an exceptional champion."

Did you contact the national coach about the decision regarding you?

"Well, he called me, and that's it. Maybe I can be there again next year in Rwanda."

In the end, how do you look back on your season?

"It's all very unfortunate in the end. I started very well, with Catalonia and the Tirreno, where I rode well. After that, I wasn't allowed to go to the Giro, but I still won a nice stage in Hungary. Finally, I went on the tour, where I might have hoped for a little more. However, it was a tough Tour, and in the end, I got a nice transfer, so now I'm enjoying cycling towards the end of the season."

Could you also have stayed with Bahrain Victorious?

"Yes, they made me another offer after the tour. But Astana was on my radar by then, and after five years, I thought it was time to make another change."

Did the Giro d'Italia, where you were eventually not allowed to start, play a part in that?

"That is a bit blunt, but it adds up. You ask yourself if you still want to change and if you still want to leave. Then you make a list of what you still want to do, and then tick off the pros and cons."

Astana's press release contained mostly official quotes, but what do you hope to find at Astana?

"They need points for the WorldTour ranking, of course, and I picked up quite a few points this year. Next year, you start all over again, so I just want to try to have good races and results. Maybe try again for the Giro, although we haven't discussed a program yet. That tour is still on my mind, though."

Everyone always has an opinion about Alexandre Vinokourov, but how was he talking to you?

"Well, I only spoke to him over the phone. Nothing special in itself, mind you."

Besides the Giro, what do you want to tick off the list, as you just said?

"I still want many things, but I don't know if they are realistic. I just really enjoy racing. The Tour of Hungary is a small race on paper, but it was very nice to win a stage there and make it to the podium. I don't mind competing in smaller races and going for results. I rode in the top ten in Catalonia almost daily and still like doing that."

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])      

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