Astana explain transfer of sprinter Syritsa to continental team - "It’s no secret that the team’s main goal in 2025 is to secure enough ranking points"

Astana Qazaqstan Team have sent a total of three riders to it's development team. In 2025, the team takes on a strategy fully focused on UCI points but as a result they have sent one of their most promising talents Gleb Syritsa to it's continental structure. The Kazakh team today explains the decision.

In previous days, it was possible to see in ProCyclingStats the demotion of the Russian sprinter, and the signing on a two-year deal of Chinese rider Haoyu Su (who has not actually been publicly announced yet). Today the team announced this move, and also the renewal of Kazakh rider Anton Kuzmin.

In a press release, team manager Alexander Vinokourov explained the move of the Russian rider, who has four pro wins to his name with the team and was even present at the Olympic Games this year. “It’s no secret that the team’s main goal in 2025 is to secure enough ranking points to retain the WorldTour license. To strengthen the team, we’ve made significant changes to the roster and brought in several specialists to help push the team toward achieving better results," the veteran explained.

"Additionally, during our December training camp, we conducted individual meetings with each rider to refine their race calendars and set goals for the season. As a result, Gleb Syritsa will move to our Continental team. This decision aligns with the interests of both the team and the rider. For the team, it’s crucial that Gleb fully dedicates himself to team objectives in races where he’s selected for the main squad." The move to the continental team, over recent rules, means that in non-World Tour competition Syritsa will still be able to race for the elite team and in those competition the points he gathers will also benefit the team.

It's an unusual transfer, but a strategy that the Kazakh team is betting on to try and save their fading World Tour license. "For Gleb, it’s important to have the chance to pursue his own ambitions, which he will have with the Development team. In a points-focused strategy, some riders will need to set aside their personal ambitions in the next season. However, if there’s a way to both support the team and seize opportunities for personal growth, why not take it? I believe this is the optimal solution for both the team and the young rider," Vinokourov concluded.