Start to learn the new team name of Astana Qazaqstan: "XDS is ready for a long-term investment"

Astana Qazaqstan is getting a new name. The team of Alexander Vinokurov will undergo many changes in 2025, the main one involving arrival of new title sponsor from China. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the currently Kazakh team, which is likely to be registered in China from next year, will go by the name XdS (Carbon-Tech)- Astana Qazaqstan.

"Since 2022, we have been looking for an opportunity to be involved in the WorldTour," Yancong Tan, CEO of XDS, said in July. "We were very lucky to meet Astana Qazaqstan this year at a show in Shanghai. During the conversations, we knew for sure that Astana was the team we wanted. For the coming seasons, XDS will be the strongest sponsor of the team. We will make sure that the team has enough budget and the best possible technical support."

Vinokourov is happy with the arrival of XDS. "We were looking for an investor who was able to take the team to the next level," he says. "We are happy that the management of XDS shares our goals and vision for the future."

"XDS is ready for a long-term investment. Part of that includes a partnership with a new bicycle brand," the Kazakh probably refers to X-Lab, which is a bike company under the by XDS.

The Chinese investment appeared to provide more financial breathing space to attract riders for the coming seasons. The team currently has 29 riders under contract for 2025. In recent months, no fewer than twelve new names were signed. For example, the team went on a Dutch tour by signing Wout Poels, Mike Teunissen and Darren van Bekkum. Diego Ulissi, Sergio Higuita and Fausto Masnada are also new to the team. Next to the signing of in-form Matteo Malucelli, the team is still hoping to find another top-level sprinter to fulfill the void in Astana's sprint train left by retiring Mark Cavendish.