"There's so many new people... I asked the mechanic about massaging and thought dietician was the doctor" - Wout Poels describes chaotic fresh starts in Astana

Wout Poels is one of the main names on the long transfers list of Astana Qazaqstan with view of 2025. The Kazakh team backed by a new strong Chinese sponsor is ready to bend backwards next year in order to achieve impossible and save their WorldTour license for the upcoming period.

In his podcast In Koers he discusses the first impressions he has gained. "You suddenly have so many new people in front of you. Then you ask the mechanic things about massaging. Or I thought the dietician was the doctor. You suddenly have to get to know almost sixty people."

Poels is entering his seventeenth professional season, but he says he was still a bit nervous for his first days at Astana Qazaqstan Team. "It's still exciting. Not as exciting as when I went from Vacansoleil to Quick Step, or when I went to Team Sky. That was even more exciting, because you're going to an English-speaking team."

The Netherlands will have form a noticeable force within Astana for 2025 as Poels will join up with another four compatriots in the team. Next to Cees Bol and Ide Schelling who made the move to Astana last winter, also experienced Mike Teunissen and young Darren van Bekkum will look forward to their debut in new team colours.