In 2025, the Astana cycling team will look very different. A big investment from a Chinese bike company called XDS is changing everything.
Key Takeaways:
– The team will now be called XDS Astana Team.
– Riders will use X-LAB bikes from XDS.
– Mark Cavendish is not part of the new team.
– The team has new riders and staff to improve performance.
– XDS aims to become a global leader in cycling.
The team’s iconic sky blue jersey will stay, but almost everything else is changing. XDS is now part-owner of the team. This means riders will race on X-LAB bikes, and the team’s name will change to XDS Astana Team.
team manager Alexander Vinokourov and sport director Mark Renshaw recently visited Shenzhen, China, for the official announcement. They signed agreements and showed off the new jersey.
The jersey still looks mostly the same, with sky blue as the main color. But there are some new design touches, like colors on the shoulders, and some Kazakhstani sponsors. The racing kit is made by an Italian brand called Biemme.
Why XDS Invested in Astana
XDS wants to become a global leader in cycling. By investing in Astana, the company is using the team to promote its bikes and technology worldwide. The team will benefit from XDS’s advanced engineering and strong financial support.
“This investment is a big step for XDS,” said the team in a statement. “It helps XDS become a key player in international cycling and will help the team achieve even more success in the future.”
XDS has been a frame producer for other brands for a long time but is now expanding globally. This investment is part of their plan to enter international markets.
For XDS, the partnership with Astana is a way to show their ambition to lead the cycling industry. The company is already a leader in China’s bike market and is now ready to go global.
What Happens Next for the Team
The team’s future in the WorldTour is uncertain. The UCI, the governing body of cycling, has made the team’s registration for next season conditional. They need to submit more documents by January 15. But the announcement in Shenzhen suggests these issues will be resolved soon.
To stay competitive, the team has made big changes to its roster. Italian national champion Alberto Bettiol joined the team mid-season. Thirteen other new riders are coming onboard in 2025.
Some of the new riders include Wout Poels, Diego Ulissi, and Sergio Higuita. Aaron Gate, a sprinter from New Zealand, is also joining. However, some Kazakhstani riders have left the team. Michael Mørkøv and Mark Cavendish have retired.
New Faces in the Team Staff
The team has also strengthened its staff. Pete Kennaugh and Alex Dowsett, both former professional cyclists, have joined the team. Dowsett is now the team’s performance engineer, while Kennaugh is a sport director.
Other new additions include Lorenzo Lapage and Dario Cataldo, who will also work as sport directors. The team’s performance group has also grown, with experts like Helmut Dollinger and Morgan Saussine joining.
Vasilis Anastopoulos, who helped Mark Cavendish perform well in recent years, remains as the team’s Head of Performance. Maurizio Mazzoleni is the team’s Sports Manager.
Mark Cavendish’s Role
Mark Cavendish was involved in planning the team’s future and helped bring in Alex Dowsett and Pete Kennaugh. However, he was not at the launch event in Shenzhen. It seems he will not have a role in the XDS Astana Team.
The Road Ahead
The team has invested heavily in new riders and staff to score ranking points in 2025. With XDS’s support, they hope to achieve greater success. But they still face challenges, like securing their place in the WorldTour.
The partnership with XDS is a big step for both the team and the company. It shows XDS’s ambition to become a global cycling leader.
Let’s see how these changes work out for Astana in 2025. One thing is for sure—everything is about to look very different for this team.