The Astana Qazaqstan group introduced the signing of Dutchman Wout Poels on a one-year deal for the 2025 season. Poels heads to the group of Alexandre Vinokourov after 5 seasons with Bahrain Victorious.
A winner of levels within the Tour de France and Vuelta a España together with a number of different stage races, Poels is a climbing specialist who when not working for a group chief has claimed total victories within the Vuelta a Andalucía, the Volta a la Comunidad Valenciana and at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2016.
“I’m enthusiastic about my transfer to Astana Qazaqstan Team,” Poels mentioned. “The group has been within the skilled peloton for a few years, with a formidable variety of main victories, and it is nice to affix such a bunch.
“Next yr, I need to present the most effective of what I’m able to. I’ve a dream – to win a stage within the Giro d’Italia and thus be a part of the record of riders who’ve received levels in all three Grand Tours.
“But, after all, the pursuits of the group will come first. I’m trying ahead to the second I can be a part of the group. Astana Qazaqstan Team already has Dutch riders, Cees Bol and Ide Schelling, and it will likely be nice to be in the identical group with them. I need to end this season on a excessive notice and method the brand new yr at 100%.”
Astana reportedly acquired an injection of money from Chinese firm XDS Carbon Tech and can doubtless be on the hunt for riders who can rating UCI factors and convey the group up out of the UCI Rankings basement. Their rating is threatening their WorldTour standing within the subsequent promotion/relegation in 2026.
“With Wout Poels, we’re gaining a really skilled and powerful rider who can each assist different riders and contribute to the group’s technique from inside the race as a captain, whereas additionally preventing for victories and podiums in each stage races and the classics,” supervisor Vinokourov mentioned.
“For Astana Qazaqstan Team, this can be a sturdy reinforcement for the mountains and week-long stage races. I imagine that in our group, Wout Poels could have an amazing likelihood to show himself and obtain the objectives he units for himself, in addition to these set by the group.”
Poels might be becoming a member of Alberto Bettiol (EF Education Easypost) whose signing was introduced on August 15.
