XDS Astana devotes specific lineups for small races in pursuit of UCI points: "We are at the point where not everyone can even get a start in those races"

XDS Astana Team is a pleasant surprise of this season. After two lesser seasons, the team of Alexandre Vinokourov was in the depths of UCI ranking. But with arrival of new title sponsor, Astana reawakened like a phoenix. The Kazakh squad has cashed in at previously irrelevant races like the Tour of Hellas, Tour of Hainan and Tour des Alpes Maritimes.

According to Ide Schelling, Astana is even sending some of its top riders to these events. "It is a complicated situation," he tells IDLProCycling.com who spoke to some of Astana's key riders. "Astana wants to send strong guys to smaller races to scoop up as many points as possible. It is a strategic game, and we are at the point now where not everyone can even get a start in those races."

"I had never seen anything like this," laughs Schelling. "When I turned pro, I didn’t even know UCI points existed. Now I get a tailored race program and you just make the most of it."

One of the main point collectors in the opening three months of the season has been Christian Scaroni. The Italian says his results were partly down to a new training approach. "We switched things up a bit last winter with my coach, putting more focus on one-day races," he explains. "Astana needs to rack up UCI points to keep that WorldTour license."

Schelling points to a shift in the atmosphere. "Quite a few staff members have changed and while some key things are still the same, you can see a lot has changed in the details. Things run a lot smoother and everything feels just a bit more serious."

"I find it hard to pinpoint exactly why we’re doing so well this season," says Schelling. "The team dynamic is great, and that makes a big difference." The experienced Wout Poels agrees. "They’re all good guys, and luckily all the Italians speak English. I barely get past 'ciao' or 'pizza,'" he laughs. “Things are really good at Astana. I felt welcome from the start. Everyone’s super friendly and I feel right at home. The vibe is great."