Stefano Zanini confident in World Tour survival after XDS Astana Team’s strong spring: “We had the impression of a change in mentality since December”

XDS Astana Team are facing a pivotal year in 2025 as they continue their fight to retain WorldTour status. But after a difficult spring campaign 12 months ago, signs of a turnaround are already emerging, with the team delivering strong performances across the cobbled Classics.

In contrast to their struggles at the 2024 Tour of Flanders, this year’s edition saw XDS Astana race with a new sense of purpose. Speaking to Bici.PRO, directeur sportif Stefano Zanini reflected on the transformation.

"Even the vehicles have to be checked after two weeks in the Northern Classics. Luckily everything is fine. Now I'm going home and enjoying a period of rest before starting the races again in May.”

That sense of improvement isn’t just mechanical. it’s deeply embedded in the team’s mentality, “This year, XDS Astana has a different spirit,” Zanini explained. “It was clear from the first races in Spain and the Northern campaign confirmed it.

“The chase for points led everyone to make a leap in mentality and approach to racing. The icing on the cake came at Flanders and Roubaix, where the team ran as a protagonist.”

For Zanini, the change has been brewing for months, “We had the impression of a change in mentality since December,” he said. “The environment of the runners was different. The arrival of new guys brought something more and you could see it. There was a lot of motivation and we had the feedback right away.

“In 2024 the stones were indigestible, a year later I can say that things went in a totally different way and thanks go to everyone. Even young guys like Romele and Toneatti proved to be up to the situation. From this point of view we are happy because a great future is expected for them. With the mix of experienced and young runners I am convinced that in the future we will be able to do great things.”

Zanini knows the Classics well, he enjoyed a distinguished career of his own, including stage wins at the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and a victory at the Amstel Gold Race. 2025 also marks the team’s first season without Mark Cavendish, who retired at the end of last year.

“Tactically the strategy does not change,” Zanini said. “Over the years we will always find ourselves competing against the usual Pogacar, Van der Poel, Pedersen and Van Aert. However, the attitude of the guys must be to say: I can't wait for these races to arrive. Only in this way do you want to suffer and try to the end.”

He also took time to review the team’s recent efforts on the cobbles, “Monday, once I got home. We ran well, we were in front from the first stretches. Roubaix is a race where you need luck but also a lot of calm. Between falls and punctures the group explodes but then always comes back together. You need a great deal of luck but you also have to look for it. Difficult moments have to be managed and interpreted. You can't just race when everything is going well.”

The cobbled campaign holds a special place in Zanini’s heart, “The riders know that these are my favorite races, those who come here understand that it's another way of experiencing cycling. Perhaps unconsciously I can also transmit this passion of mine. You feel the cobblestone Classics more than the others, maybe it's the environment or something else, but there's no need for too many words. Those who come to do these races feel cycling in the air.”

There were setbacks too,most notably the absence of Alberto Bettiol, who missed the entire pavé campaign due to a lung inflammation. Davide Ballerini, however, delivered strong results with sixth at Gent-Wevelgem and tenth at Flanders, though he was struck by misfortune at Roubaix.

“Too bad for Roubaix where he was sidelined by bad luck and an accident with a spectator.”

Among the team’s standouts has been Yevgeniy Fedorov, who has impressed with his raw power, “In my opinion he is very strong, he has superhuman strength. He must learn to run better and read the phases of the race. At Roubaix until the Arenberg Forest he remained among the first, then he spent too much to get back into a small group and from there he was missing. These are natural steps to take, he is still twenty-five years old.”

Zanini also praised Michele Gazzoli’s contribution, “I don't want to forget Gazzoli either, he was an important pawn and a support for the team.”