Young Kazakh cyclist Alexandr Vinokurov Jr. of the continental XDS Astana Development Team has officially announced his retirement from professional cycling at the age of 23. Does the name ring bells? Yes, Alexandr is the twin brother of XDS Astana's WorldTour rider Nicolas Vinokurov and a son of former Olympic champion Alexander Vinokourov who is currently in charge of the Kazakh WorldTour formation.
The final competition of Alexandr Jr.'s career was the prestigious Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia, where he stood out for his work in favor of the team, contributing to the collective success with four stage victories and fourth place in the overall classification for his brother, Nicolas, who also took the best Asian rider's jersey.
The decision to retire comes after a season marked by physical difficulties. In early March 2025, Vinokurov Jr. suffered a fractured right femoral neck during training accident, an injury that kept him out of competition for most of the year. This was not the first time injuries interrupted his progression as a cyclist, but it was the most serious and prolonged.
"It was not an easy decision," Vinokurov Jr. confessed in statements released by the team. "During the recovery I thought a lot about which way to go. In recent years I suffered several injuries that always frustrated my plans and the work I was doing to keep growing. But it was clear to me that I didn't want to end my career in a hospital bed. I wanted to come back, compete and really say goodbye."
His father's words
And so he did. His participation at the Tour de Langkawi not only marked his return, but also an outstanding performance as a teammate, showing commitment and dedication until the last day with the colors of the XDS Astana Team, and also with the WorldTour formation of the Astana project.
Alexander Vinokourov, cycling legend of Kazakhstan
His father, Alexander Vinokourov, former successful professional cyclist and current general manager of the team, expressed words of admiration and respect for his son's decision:
"Alex made this decision and I respect it. He knew how difficult it is to stay competitive in cycling today, especially with recurring injuries. But he was also adamant that he wanted to get back on the bike before he retired. He made it, and his last race was excellent. Now he starts a new phase, and I wish him the best."
Thus from 2026 onwards, we will be once again seeing only one Vinokurov in the bunch while we're bound to hear from Astana's manager here and there.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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