OFFICIAL: Astana lose long-term leader Alexey Lutsenko who bolsters Israel - Premier Tech's climbing team
Cycling
Movements in the cycling market continue to happen and the latest is the transfer of Alexey Lutsenko, who is leaving his long-term home team Astana Qazaqstan Team for Israel - Premier Tech. A transfer similar to that of Guillaume Martin who recently also announced his move to Groupama - FDJ.
Thus, the Kazakh leaves the Astana Qazaqstan Team to sign for Israel - Premier Tech for two seasons. Lutsenko has spent 12 years in Alexander Vinokourov's team since he became a pro in 2013. At 31 years old, he leaves with victories in the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, 2 top 10s in the Grande Boucle and overall wins in Oman and the Artic Race - among other results in the hilly, cobbled classics and also stage-races.
Change of course
"After 12 great years with Astana, I am looking for the motivation I need to reach new goals," Lutsenko commented in a press release announcing his departure from his lifelong team. He believes that in Israel he will have the opportunity to take a leap forward in a career that had been somewhat stalled in recent seasons that have not been easy for the Kazakh team:
"Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone to achieve something new. I have nothing but good things to say about my time with Astana Qazaqstan Team, I achieved a lot and I am grateful to this team, but I feel I have potential to do more in a new environment. I have many friends among the staff and riders of Israel - Premier Tech and I have seen how fast the team has developed in a short time. I believe that in the future, it will only get stronger and talking to the team management, I see their interest in the growth of the team, including me, and how I can contribute to it."
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- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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We’re going to have 𝗟𝘂𝘁𝘀 of fun with our 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✍️ Tour de France and Vuelta a España stage winner @AlexeyLutsenko3 🇰🇿 will join IPT on a two-year contract from 2025. Read more 👉 israelpremiertech.com/alexey-lutsenk… #YallaIPT
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