Mark Cavendish starts season at Tour of Oman, hunts wins and success at UAE Tour

Mark Cavendish is finally allowed to put on the colours of the Astana Qazaqstan Team and officially end months of chase for a spot in the peloton. The Manxman will be starting his season at the Tour of Oman, and eyeing the Tour de France naturally.

At the Tour Down Under, Astana DS Stefano Zanini told Velonews: “It’s an honor to have a rider like Mark join our team. The team will create a leadout train to support Mark. It’s a new challenge for this team but we are committed to doing it.”

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The Manxman is currently in Calpe training with a big block of the team, including new signings Cees Bol - who he was originally set to join at B&B Hotels-KTM - and several riders who will be forming his leadout train this year.

“Mark is motivated, and he will raise the level of everyone, from the riders and the staff. We can bring the riders to support him. Everyone believes Mark will be winning a lot of races," Zanini states. "We want to give the best possible support to allow him to do things as he always has. It’s an important for us to build a train for him in order to take on the races in the best possible way,” Zanini said.

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“We have a good group of riders who can help him. It’s normal that it might cost us a bit of time to find the right feeling in the races. This team has the history of racing in the grand tours," he says. Cavendish has managed to virtually confirm his presence at the Tour de France, having gotten a spot at World Tour level.

Now he has the job of preparing himself as best as possible, as Astana are keen to help him take a record-breaking 35th win at the Grand Boucle. "Things are like that right now, but everyone is very, very motivated to have a big champion like him. The train will come together and we believe we can deliver Cavendish to the line.”

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Cavendish will be starting his season off in familiar roads, as he travels to the middle east in search of pan-flat stages which suit his attributes. He will find plenty of them at the Tour of Oman, where he will begin his season in mid-February, and the UAE Tour.

“The early races will be important for the team to be able to work with Mark and create the feeling of a train. It will not be easy, but by later in the season, Mark will seeing the support he needs," he added.

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The spring calendar is still largely undecided, but one thing is clear: “We will see about his calendar, but I am sure he will be doing the Tour de France."

“That’s the idea, and the big objective will be at the Tour this year. It’s never easy to win a stage at the Tour. The race is always hard at any Tour. But I believe if we do the work and we support him, I think it’s possible to win races with Mark,” Zanini concluded.

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“The level of is very high right now in the peloton for the sprints. There are other teams that have a committed train, so it’s important for us to work together and build out this project.

“Mark’s level is very good. He was working hard in Calpe,” Zanini said. “Mark is motivated to race. Let’s see what happens. It’s exciting for everyone. His palmarès are among the best in the world.”

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