Astana Qazaqstan announces Development Team
Nov 11 2021 05:15 am CET
Photo by ASO/Thomas MAHEUX
Astana Qazaqstan has announced the creation of a new UCI Continental team for U23 riders.
The Kazakh team will have its own development team that "will be focused on nurturing young talented riders, who will have a chance to move to the WorldTour level in the future." The formation devoted to U23 riders will be competing in the upcoming season.
"Cycling is becoming younger, and it requires a better and profounder work with the young talented riders," said Astana Qazaqstan General manager Alexandr Vinokurov. "This is the reason that many teams already have their own development teams. I was dreaming about Astana development team for a long time, and now we have an opportunity to create a new Under 23 team inside our structure. I think this is a big and important step ahead in our global development as a national cycling project, and I hope we will succeed. We are working on receiving the UCI Continental Team license to have a possibility to build up a good calendar for the riders which would include many important youth races around Europe.
"So far, we are thinking about ten riders, the priority will be given to young riders from Kazakhstan, but we are planning to invite a few talented riders from other countries to this team. Thus, we will get a chance to create a strong team where the riders will have a possibility to gain experience and learn from each other to step into the level of our main team."
