"A rider with great potential, which he is only beginning to show" - Astana confirm signing one of one cycling's fastest rising climbers
CyclingFriday, 04 September 2026 at 14:00
XDS Astana Team have confirmed, this Friday morning, the signing of Nicolas Breuillard. The Kazakh team continue the signing spree into the 2027 season, and have brought in one of the climbers who has shown the biggest evolution over the past years.
“We see Nicolas Breuillard as a rider with great potential, which he is only beginning to show," team manager Alexandr Vinokourov said in a press release issued by the team.
Astana have conducted the fourth signing into 2027 with Breuillard, who will join Andrea Bagioli, Matteo Scalco and his current teammate Anthony Turgis. TotalEnergies find themselves in a complicated situation sponsorship-wise, and their future is not yet assured. With that being the case, its leaders are departing - all towards World Tour structures.
Breuillard rises to World Tour level
In this case, 26-year old Breuillard, who has followed a rather traditional path through professional cycling - unlike most current riders who develop in the main team's development programs or are signed directly from the junior ranks.
Breuillard turned professional in 2024 with the St Michel team after several years in the French amateur scene. Throughout his two-year stint in the French continental team, he placed it on the big screens frequently during the national races and earned himself a contract with TotalEnergies.
And at ProTeam level, his performances improved even further. He was fifth at the Tour of Turkey and his performances throughout the year earned him a Tour de France debut. Here, he proved to be key towards Jordan Jegat's Top10 result due to his ride on the queen stage to Alpe d'Huez. He was also fifth at the recent Czech Tour.
"This is his first season in the professional peloton, and his next step in the WorldTour will be with our team, so the most exciting part of his career is still ahead of him. There is a lot of work to be done, but over time Nicolas Breuillard will have opportunities to show his full potential”
Nicolas Breuillard during the 2026 Tour de France
A clear vision heading into Astana
Breuillard is still a relatively new rider to the calendar at the top level, but has shown the ability to perform in the hills, mountainous terrain and also have the resistance to handle a Grand Tour quite well.
“I would like to thank XDS Astana Team and its manager Alexandr Vinokurov for the interest and trust they have shown in me," the Frenchman said. "It is an honor to become part of such a legendary and ambitious team. I’m impressed by the team’s attacking style, which perfectly matches my own vision of cycling and the way I like to race".
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At Astana, there is a structure that provides freedom for most of its riders, and leadership opportunities throughout the year. The Frenchman will join the team's extensive block of climbers and riders capable of performing in the hilly races - further bolstering it.
"I’m joining XDS Astana Team with strong ambitions, but also with a great desire to learn and progress at the highest level. My goal is to keep moving forward, become stronger, play a significant role in the biggest World Tour races, while putting all my abilities at the team’s disposal”.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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