Astana making serious moves in the market - Sergio Higuita also heavily linked to Kazakh team
Cycling
The Cycling Market of this season 2024 is being very well exploited by an Astana Qazaqstan Team that does not stop moving. The Kazakh team is in a desperate situation to save itself from relegation, and with the entrance of a new Chinese sponsor, new budget is coming in which is allowing for significant signings.
According to journalist Daniel Benson, Astana is very close signing Sergio Higuita. "It's not official yet, but the team has signed Sergio Higuita, 27, from Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. We understand that a press release will be issued soon and that Astana has pre-empted EF Education Easy-Post and Movistar Team's interest in signing the Colombian rider."
It is true that the importance of the 2022 Volta a Catalunya winner in the German team has been decreasing drastically, so an exit in this market was practically obligatory for his future as a rider. At Astana he will have that absolute leadership in any of the one-week races in which he takes the start and the lead in one of the three grand tours, as Daniel Benson adds.
The Kazakh team have already confirmed the signing of Alberto Bettiol with immediate effect; whilst for next season Wout Poels, Nicola Conci and Tour de l'Avenir stage winner Samuel Kajamini have been announced. The likes of Caleb Ewan and Diego Ulissi are heavily linked to the team as well, at the time being.
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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.
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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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There's going to be several transfer moves today. I'll have a short story out soon on Astana/Higuita/Ewan and then a big transfer wrap later this evening.
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