Astana Cycling Team

photo - www.astana.lu

photo - www.astana.lu

Today, we saw a strong work from riders of Astana Team.
Czech Roman Kreuziger finished in 4th position while Alexandre
Vinkourov suffered of a mechanical problem.
Here are the statements of Laurenzo Lapage, Roman Kreuziger,
Alexandre Vinokourov, Enrico Gasparatto and Remy Di Gregorio.

Laurenzo Lapage: "The team did a wonderful job today. That's a pity
that Vino had a mechanical problem, we can say if could have played
for victory or not but he staid in front all long while Kessaikoff and
then Gasparotto were in the breakway. And when he is in this position
it means he could have gone for a first place. We saw also a strong
work from Remy Di Gregorio and Roman Kreuziger. Roman finishes in 4th
position which is a good sign before the Giro. Today we can be proud
of the team!" Read the rest of this entry →

EUROSPORT WILL MAKE A SPECIAL COVERAGE “InSIDE ASTANA TEAM” DURING GIRO & TOUR

Pro Team Astana signed a contract with world-known channel "Eurosport" with the duration from 1.05.11 till 31.07.11. During this period Eurosport will pay special attention to Pro Team Astana.

The focus will be on Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. During these big races the people from Eurosport (reporter + cameraman) will be every day with the team. From the beginning till the end of each of this two Grand Tours special movie "Inside Team Astana" will be broadcasted on Eurosport before each stage every day.  Read the rest of this entry →

Today, the winner of the last edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Alexandre Vinokourov has answered to the press.

We say: "Never two without three", you have already won Liege-Bastogne-Liege twice ...

"Of course I'm always motivated to win a beautiful race like Liege. At Paris-Nice in 2004, this sentence came true with my three wins, but we can also consider that Philippe Gilbert would make his third win of the week with Liege, so everything will really be decided this Sunday!

We felt a change in your performance between Amstel Gold Race and Fleche Wallonne, how do you explain it?

I've never really felt comfortable in the Amstel Gold Race, I won once in 2003, but I was motivated by the thought of my friend Kivilev who died short time before. Otherwise, I've never had much success in the Amstel, probably cause it’s the first great classic of my season, with a distance of 260 kilometers. For Arrow I felt good and then we took a drive just after the 50km race to go the distance on Sunday.

How do you think you could beat Philippe Gilbert?

It's always hard to tell, but it will be decided in a sprint, that's all. Since the beginning of the season, he is in very good shape, among other with his victory in Portugal, his performance in Milan-San Remo, he has an impressive shape! But we can not know in advance, there is also the Schleck brothers who are highly motivated and team Katusha, too, they will tighten the race, I think. Read the rest of this entry →

The Kazakh team leader, Alexandre Vinokourov, comes to the Ardennes Classics with enthusiasm, he reported on his early season and on his goals during an interview:

- Alexandre, how do you feel before the Ardennes Classics?

- I am very excited before leaving for the Netherlands and Belgium. The Amstel Gold Race, this Sunday, is a race that is close to my heart. In 2003 I had won it a few weeks after the death of my friend Andrei Kivilev. It was the first great Classic that I won, I had dedicated it to Kivi because it was also his victory. This was the outcome of our sacrifices for years, our work but also the life we ​​had chosen when we left our country so young. With Kivi , we took part in this great adventure in Occident but unfortunately he wasn’t there to see that we hadn’t done it for nothing.

- You always think of him?

- Even more when I take the start of Paris-Nice, where he died but also before the Amstel, because I remember my immense emotion. This year I started the season more quietly, more “piano”. It was done on purpose to get in shape, first for the Ardennes classics and then for Tour de France.

- Do you think you're in your time for your schedule?

- Since the Tour of Basque Country, I'm sure. I did a very good race with a stage win as a reward. I think being right, even if some are worried because our results are discrete for the moment, I tell them that we must allow time to time. Our main events of the season approaching, we will take stock after the Tour de France. It’s not being acquainted with this sport to draw conclusions from one season when it has just begun. Read the rest of this entry →

Tomas Vaitkus

Team Astana riders who are committed to the Paris-Roubaix will arrive tomorrow in the department of Oise (France).

Within the squad, there will be Australian Allan Davis and his young compatriot Simon Clarke, who has shown a promising start on the Belgian Classics during last Tour of Flanders. There will also be Lithuanian Tomas Vaitkus who showed himself in good condition during the Three Days of La Panne, he remained this week in Belgium and trained on the course of the race with the team manager Laurenzo Lapage. Read the rest of this entry →

photo from www.astana.lu

Today, the fourth stage of Tour of Basque Country, with a 179km route between Amurrio and Eibar.

Queen stage of the Tour of Basque Country, with the rise of seven categorized passes, including two passes of 1st category.

It's a real battle that’s played in the rise of the last pass, Alto Usartza (cat 1). Alexandre Vinokorouv, winner of yesterday's stage, has shown himself very offensive, once again "Today's stage confirms the victory yesterday, I feel better and better, the legs are there!"

7km to the finish, Andy Schleck attacked, and Alexandre Vinokourov staid in his wheel but they were surpassed by Frank Schleck and Xavier Tondo. At 3.5 km from the final, while Xavier Tondo is alone in the lead, 16 seconds ahead, Alexandre Vinokourov launches an attack, he is joined by Chris Horner, Samuel Sanchez, and other favorites, they form a group of pursuers behind Xavier Tondo "before the start this morning, I thought I could remain among the best, I have proved it during this stage," says Alexandre. Read the rest of this entry →

photo from www.cyclingnews.com

Mountain Stage, as yesterday marked with the ascension of seven categorized climbs.

Approximately 35km after the start, a breakaway is formed and shortly after, during the ascension of “Alto de Altzo” (3rd category), the Kazakh Maxim Iglinskiy joins the breakaway group.

Maxim and his 3 breakaway companions (Amael Moinard BMC, Dario Cataldo Quick Step and Rafael Valls Geox-TMC) created a gap going until 5min45s. "I thought we would go through, said the Kazakh, but Garmin Cervelo riders imposed a very strong pace in front of the pack." The sports director Alexandr Shefer adds "I think Maxim has done well to go in this break, it was a good group, but it would have been better if there had also been riders from Garmin-Cervelo and Lampre". Read the rest of this entry →

As we know, Pro Team Astana has a new structure since the beginning of 2011.

It’s been nearly 100 days since the season started, it’s time to take stock with the Team Manager, Giuseppe Martinelli.

The duties are divided between you as Chief Sport Director and Dr. Aidar Makhmetov as Commercial Director. How do you estimate this structure?

This is not the first time I've worked in this kind of configuration, I have been Team Manager for the sports aspect, in collaboration with a Commercial Director and it has always been a good thing.

Do you have good cooperation with Dr. Makhmetov?

Dr. Makhmetov came with the experience in management, strategy and marketing obtained in big multinational companies. Besides of this, he is the former professional sportsmen. Although he isn't from a cycling world, we understand each other very well and usually find a decision very quickly.

Pro Team Astana
Communication Department
Blandine Roquelet