Can Mark Cavendish's Astana plans be off? Team's official picture hints at bad news for Manxman

Astana Qazaqstan Team have endured a very hard season and a hard winter with the termination of Miguel Ángel López' contract. The team had leftover budget, and the stars seemed to align for Mark Cavendish to join the team. However, he is absent from the team's official 2023 picture.

Astana Qazaqstan Team have shared a picture of their lineup for the 2023 season in social media on the opening day of the year. It is understood the photo was taken around two weeks ago whilst the team was in a training camp in eastern Spain, however it has sparked questions as the possible signing of Mark Cavendish has not publicly taken any steps forward since Alexander Vinokourov said that "now it's up to his people to take a step forward" after contacting the Manxman.

Cavendish had signed with B&B Hotels-KTM for the 2023 season but when the team collapsed his plans were scraped off, with very few teams having the budget or interest to sign him, team camps beginning, and time running on very tight. Human Powered Health surged as a possibility, but then López' firing from Astana saw an opening in the Kazakh team.

The signing seemed inevitable when some weeks ago he was seen riding in Spain with a bike from the Astana team. Both he and Cees Bol were expected to sign for the team, which has in the meantime seen nothing but silence. With this picture being posted further questions can be raised about the seriousness of the negotiations.