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Follow us on GoogleAstana Qazaqstan Team is having a less than stellar season and the Kazakh outfit is having some issues behind the scenes, but according to L'Equipe, a lifeboat appears to be on the horizon. A Chinese investor is reportedly willing to buy the license of Alexander Vinokourov’s team.
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The WorldTour license of Astana Qazaqstan Team expires at the end of 2025, and currently, the team is on course for relegation due to a lack of points. However, L'Equipe reports that a Chinese businessman is interested in taking over Vinokourov's license and project for a period of five years. This would involve doubling the current budget.
Vinokourov and his team have had to deal with budgetary issues over the past few years, prompted by higher authorities in Kazakhstan. On several occasions, riders and staff have had to wait for their salaries, while the team’s successes no longer match the possibilities within the current cycling world.
Astana has been a successful team for nearly two decades
Astana has been active in the cycling peloton since 2006 and has won eight grand tours, including the Tour de France twice: in 2009 with Alberto Contador and in 2014 with Vincenzo Nibali. Currently, Mark Cavendish is the team's star, as the Brit is aiming for his 35th stage win in the Tour de France in July, which would set a new all-time record.
The Chinese are eyeing Astana Qazaqstan Team's spot in the cycling circuit with a substantial amount of money. If the Kazakh authorities agree to a sale, they intend to boost the budget to be among the better ones in the peloton. Additionally, the team would undergo significant changes, as 18 of the 29 contracts at Astana are set to expire.
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026