"It is fundamental for XDS that we stay in the WorldTour" - Alexander Vinokourov beaming after successful Giro

XDS Astana had one of their more successful Grand Tours in recent history at the Giro d'Italia. While last year the Kazakh team didn't even make it onto a stage podium with just two four places, this year Astana won the mountain classification, one stage and leave Italy with a hefty amount of important UCI points.

"It would have been difficult to do better than that," team boss Alexander Vinokourov is clearly satisfied in an interview for Eurosport. "We won a stage and the climbers’ classification. That was our goal the day before. We were never interested in the general classification, but we just wanted to win as many stages as possible and get as many points as possible. I think we won 1,450 points at the Giro - not bad."

The absolute highlight of the Giro for Astana was a 1-2 in one of the queen stages with arrival at San Valentino. Lorenzo Fortunato and Christian Scaroni arrived to the finishline alone. How was it decided who would take the prestigious triumph?

"As management, we didn’t decide anything," explained the former Olympic champion. "We told the guys that we didn’t care who would win. I personally would have preferred Scaroni but only because he still has a year left on his contract (laughs, ed.). They told us that they would decide among themselves […] It was a beautiful day."

As excitement slowly fades away, the Kazakh team prepares for Tour de France. The goal? The same as in Italy. "We have no one who can aspire to anything better than a top-10 in the general classification," admits Vinokourov. "We will focus on the stages and the Polka Dot Jersey."

Through those stage results, they aspire to also get another step closer to staying in WorldTour as it's an efficient way to accumulate as many UCI points as needed. "This year we must concentrate fully on the points because last year instead we almost only aspired to victories with Cavendish. Our sponsor XDS also absolutely wants to stay in the WorldTour because for them it is fundamental. We have understood that everything is possible, as our 18 victories demonstrate."

However competing for standings will always be a part of their the DNA. The team that won 8 Grand Tours in past is already on the lookout for the next Vincenzo Nibali. "As soon as we are sure of staying in the WorldTour we will look for a GC rider. There aren’t many available, but this will be our next step. It will be difficult to beat Tadej Pogacar, but in this Giro we have seen that anything can happen…"