Astana Cycling Team

http://www.velonews.com/article/87521/zubeldia-makes-astana-debut-at-haut-var

Haimar Zubeldia will make his Astana debut at the Tour du Haut Var (February 21-22), where he will lead a team of Spanish and Kazakh riders in the two-day French race.

Twice fifth at the Tour de France, Zubeldia joined Astana for 2009 after racing his entire nine-year pro career with Euskaltel-Euskadi.

“I believe I’m good, because I’ve trained all winter without any problem, but it’s the first race of the season, so it’s logical that I won’t have any previous references,” Zubeldia said. “It’s a pretty hard race, covering undulating terrain, with constant climbs and descents. And it’s going to be cold.”

Joining Zubeldia will be compatriots Jesús Hernández and Daniel Navarro as well as Kazakh riders Assan Bazayev, Alexsandr Dyachenko, Maxim Iglinsky, Roman Kireyev and Berik Kupeshov.

After his debut on French roads, Zubeldia will race at the Giro di Sardegna (Feb. 24-28) and the GP Lugano on March 1.