Former Astana WorldTour sprinter headlines major roster overhaul for Chinese Continental squad

China Anta-Mentech is strengthening its lineup for the 2027 season with a recruitment drive led by Russian sprinter Gleb Syritsa and French fast man Pierre Barbier. The Chinese Continental team is bringing in several riders with international experience, aiming to increase its competitiveness on the Asian calendar while adding proven stage-winning ability to its roster.

Syritsa's arrival is particularly notable after several seasons within the Astana organization, where he progressed from trainee to WorldTour rider. His move gives China Anta-Mentech a rider with experience competing at a higher level than the team's Continental status.

Barbier also arrives with encouraging results from the 2026 season. After spending the year with Malaysian outfit Terengganu Cycling Team, the 29-year-old Frenchman rediscovered his winning touch in Asia, taking two consecutive stages at the Tour of Thailand in March. He also won the Grand Prix Alaiye in Turkey earlier in the season, although a fractured hand sustained in a crash at the Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race interrupted his campaign in May.

The pair will be joined by Italian Luca Colnaghi, Colombians Edison Alejandro Callejas and Jesús David Peña, and Spaniard Vicent Zaragoza. Together, the six recruits represent a substantial reshaping of the Chinese team's lineup ahead of next season.

Syritsa has spent much of his professional development within the Astana system. He joined the Kazakhstani organization as a trainee in 2022 before progressing to its WorldTour squad. He spent 2025 with the development team before returning to the first team, XDS Astana, for the 2026 campaign.

He has won four stages of the Tour de Langkawi across three consecutive editions, taking victories in 2022, twice in 2023 and again in 2024. The Malaysian race has become an important part of his palmarès and provides a useful indication of what he could bring to a team that regularly competes in Asian events.

In May 2026, he added another stage victory at the Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race, winning the third stage in a sprint. He also finished second on another stage of the same race.

Syritsa's sporting background extends beyond road sprinting. In 2019, he won gold in the team pursuit at the European Games in Minsk, representing Russia in track cycling. The move to China Anta-Mentech represents a new chapter after four seasons associated with Astana, and he should become of the leaders of the team.

Barbier's signing follows a productive season in Malaysia with Terengganu Cycling Team. The Frenchman won the opening two stages of The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Cup Tour of Thailand in late March, briefly taking the overall leader's jersey, and finished second on the final stage. He also placed second in the points classification.

Those results followed his victory at the Grand Prix Alaiye in Turkey a month earlier. His campaign was interrupted by a crash on the opening stage of the Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race, where he fractured his hand.

Previously associated with French teams, including Philippe Wagner-Bazin, Barbier is the younger brother of former professional sprinter Rudy Barbier.

The Chinese team's recruitment also includes several riders with experience in European professional racing. Colnaghi leaves Bardiani CSF 7 Saber after six seasons with the Italian team, having joined as a professional in 2021.

Callejas arrives from Roojai Insurance Winspace and has already demonstrated his ability to win at international level. The Colombian climber claimed a stage at the 2025 Giro d'Abruzzo. His compatriot Peña previously raced for Australian WorldTour team Jayco-AlUla before moving to Portuguese team Efapel.

Zaragoza, meanwhile, will take a significant step by moving into international competition. The 22-year-old Spaniard comes from Spanish amateur club Natural Greatness - Rali - Alé.