Astana Qazaqstan Team have dropped quite a few bombshells in the cycling world today, as they announce their main plan for the 2024 season. Mark Cavendish has re-signed with the Kazakh team, and now it is revealed that his former leadout man and coach from his Soudal - Quick-Step days are also coming into the lineup.
“Michael is a true professional and we know him as one of the best lead-out riders in the modern peloton," Aleksandr Vinokourov said on the transfer of Michael Morkov, confirmed this Wednesday afternoon, to be the leadout man of Cavendish into the 2024 season. "His experience and his race vision are priceless, and this kind of rider is exactly that our team needs building up the sprint group where the experience will combine with the youth. I hope Michael could be a one of the keys in creating a strong group which will be able to chase something important in the next season."
Morkov is known to be one of the best leadout men in the peloton. A track specialist and absolute key part of Soudal - Quick-Step's leadouts over the past few years, he has also had plenty experience working with Cavendish, including the 2021 Tour de France where the duo worked together towards four stage wins. “I am really excited to join Astana Qazaqstan Team in 2024, it is a team which lives a huge development, and I am honored to come there in the right moment. And, of course, I am happy to reunite with my former teammate Mark Cavendish to chase the new victories for him but also for Astana."
"Besides, the upcoming year is a year of the Olympics and I have a big ambition to fight again for the gold medal in Madison. The team is ready to provide me a good support in chasing this dream and I am really grateful for it. In general, I am happy and ready to provide all my experience in cycling to help the team to reach its biggest goals throughout the next season."
After signing Mark Renshaw as a member of the staff throughout 2023, it has become clear that the management wanted to support Cavendish as best as possible. Hence, they have also revealed to be bringing in Vasilis Anastopoulos, the coach of helped the Manxman return to his best form during his stupendous 2021 season.
"At the same time, we also aiming the developing of the sprint and I believe Vasilis is the right person for it," Vinokourov added. "He is a big professional and with the vision Vasilis has to the keys points we have to work on, I believe that in the upcoming seasons we can improve a lot both, in the the direction we chose at the start of this season with the arrival of Mark Cavendish and Cees Bol."
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