XDS Astana Team could face an uncertain future despite enjoying two of its most successful seasons in recent years. Chinese bicycle manufacturer XDS is reportedly considering ending its sponsorship of the Kazakhstani team after the 2026 campaign, with several sources suggesting that the company is even exploring the possibility of joining another WorldTour organization for 2027.
According to French newspaper L'Équipe, discussions about a potential departure are taking place behind the scenes, although the reasons for XDS's apparent dissatisfaction remain unclear.
The development would represent a major setback for team manager Alexandre Vinokourov, particularly given the sporting progress made since the Chinese company became involved.
XDS's partnership with Astana was first announced during the 2024 Tour de France, with an agreement lasting at least five years. The manufacturer officially became title sponsor in 2025, bringing substantial financial backing to the Kazakhstani organization. The stated ambition was to provide the resources necessary to compete with the best-funded teams in professional cycling.
The investment quickly produced results. XDS-Astana finished fourth in the UCI team rankings in 2025, before taking sixth place in 2026. The team has also accumulated 32 victories during the 2026 season, including five at WorldTour level, making the reported possibility of an early separation particularly surprising.
The XDS Astana Team lineup at the front of the peloton during the 2025 Giro d'Italia
Strong results have not prevented internal tensions
The sporting achievements have been notable in stage races. At the 2026 Giro d'Italia, Davide Ballerini, Alberto Bettiol and Guillermo Thomas Silva each won a stage, giving the team three victories at the Italian Grand Tour.
XDS-Astana also enjoyed success at Paris-Nice, where Max Kanter and Harold Tejada secured stage wins. Those results contributed to a season in which the team established itself among the most successful squads in terms of victories, despite finishing outside the top five in the final UCI team classification.
However, tensions have reportedly developed within the organization following the return of Yana Seel as general manager. The Belgian-Kazakhstani executive previously held the same position at Astana between 2019 and 2021 and has since worked with Lotto-Dstny and the women's UAE Team ADQ team.
Seel is responsible for the commercial, financial and sponsorship aspects of the organization, while Vinokourov focuses on sporting matters. Their previous working relationship reportedly ended badly, and the French newspaper suggests that changes introduced following Seel's return may have reignited disagreements over influence within the team.
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Five-year sponsorship agreement now under scrutiny
The original agreement between Astana and XDS was announced on the second rest day of the 2024 Tour de France. The partnership was presented as a long-term commitment of at least five years, with financial support intended to bring the team closer to the level of the leading WorldTour organizations.
For Astana, securing that backing was particularly important after several difficult seasons in which the team had struggled to maintain its position among the sport's strongest organizations. The arrival of XDS helped provide greater financial stability and contributed to the recruitment and development of a more competitive roster.
Nevertheless, the reported possibility of XDS moving to another WorldTour team would leave Vinokourov and the Kazakhstani organization facing significant questions about their future financial structure.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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