Kazakhstan's greatest prospect Yevgeniy Fedorov to continue with Astana through 2026

There's always a shadow of doubt for the new 'home recruits' at Astana Qazaqstan. Concerns usually surround their readiness to race at the highest level, as not many Kazakhs reach even half the level of the country's heroes Vinokourov, Kashechkin, Iglinskiy and most recently Alexey Lutsenko. But if there's one man with loads of talent, it has to be the 24-year-old Yevgeniy Fedorov. Following in the footsteps of compatriot Lutsenko, the tall Kazakh turned heads with his U23 world championship title in Wollongong two years ago.

In the four years as a pro with Astana, Fedorov proved himself to be a valuable rider for classics as well as sprint preparation. Particularly successful is he at the Paris-Roubaix, where he came 26th in 2023 and 14th this season. Despite, there are mixed emotions for the Asian ITT champion:

"This season has been mixed for me. On the one hand, there were certain successes, such as in Paris-Roubaix or at the Asian Championship. On the other hand, due to sickness, I couldn’t recover in time for some important starts or had to withdraw, as happened in the Tour de France."

With the expected depart of Lutsenko after this season, it was vital for Astana to secure their second greatest asset for years to come. Fedorov agreed to a two-year extension to his contract that will see him race under Alexander Vinokourov's guidance at least until the end of 2026.

"I am very happy to have extended my contract with Astana Qazaqstan Team, and I feel that in this team I can gain even more experience, become stronger, and achieve significant results. The first years in the WorldTour were tough and uneven, primarily due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. But I hope that gradually I will reach a high level that will allow me to compete for victories in big races. And I feel that I can do this in my team," said Fedorov in press release.

"Yevgeniy has everything necessary to achieve great results in the highest-level races. And we saw this year in Paris-Roubaix, where he is progressing season by season. Next year, he can make a big step forward in this classic, as well as in other races. It is not easy for all young riders to unlock their potential in the WorldTour, especially when factors such as sicknesses and injuries come into play. But I am confident that perseverance and hard work will eventually lead to success," added team manager Alexander Vinokourov, himself an Olympic champion from London 2012.