Davide Ballerini signs with Astana Qazaqstan Team - "I’d like to focus on the Northern classic races and especially on Paris-Roubaix"

Davide Ballerini had been hinted to join Astana Qazaqstan Team and the transfer has now been confirmed. The Italian sprinter and classics rider is leaving Soudal - Quick-Step in search of more freedom and leadership, both in the sprints and the in the cobbled classics.

“I can say I am very happy to come back to Astana Qazaqstan Team and I am sure that together we can achieve something good," the 28-year old said in a press release. "I know the team very well, this is a solid group where the people know how to work, how to create a good ambience and to put all things together. And I know that the team knows how to win. I am expecting great things in the next season, and I am sure everything will go in the right way both for me and the team. Now with this move I am getting the new goals, the new motivation. Of course, first of all I’d like to focus on the Northern classic races and especially on Paris-Roubaix."

Ballerini was already part of the Kazakh team, having raced one season in 2019. He then moved onto Quick-Step where he became a successful and versatile rider, grabbing wins in races such as Omloop het Nieuwsblad, the Tour de Pologne and some of the Italian Autumn classics. In recent years he settled into a domestique role within the team, as well as a leadout. Most recently, he was Remco Evenepoel's road captain at the Giro d'Italia, until the Belgian was forced to abandon at the end of the first week.

“We know Davide very well as a true professional, strong classic rider and loyal team player. We spent a good season together in 2019 and now I am happy he is coming back to our team stronger, even more experienced and motivated," Alexandr Vinokourov added. "We’d like to see Davide as one of team leaders in the Northern classics, but also as a team player and stage hunter in the Grand tours. I am looking forward to see Davide Ballerini in Astana again and I believe together we can get some important results."