Remarkable: XDS Astana makes room for Chinese rider by demoting sprinter Syritsa to development team
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Follow us on GoogleWith the arrival of sponsor XDS, Astana aims to make strides toward the top of professional cycling. The Chinese bike manufacturer provides the team’s new equipment and also gives Alexandre Vinokourov’s squad a significant financial boost. This influence is already visible in the team’s transfer strategy.
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While transfers such as Wout Poels and Mike Teunissen had been finalized long before the partnership with XDS was officially announced, the team has now unveiled a new signing. Chinese rider Haoyu Su will join from the continental-level China Glory - Mentech Continental Cycling Team. The 24-year-old is regarded in his home country as a strong all-rounder, excelling in both time trials and high-mountain stages.
However, there’s a notable catch to this transfer: XDS Astana’s roster for the new season was already full, with 30 riders registered for 2025. On paper, there was no room for the new addition. As a result, a rider from the main team had to be moved to the development squad. Surprisingly, the team decided to demote Gleb Syritsa. The Russian sprinter, who won the opening stage of this year’s Tour of Langkawi, was expected to become one of the team’s key sprinters following the departure of Mark Cavendish.
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Syritsa made progress (in vain) in Europe
Why the decision was made to reassign Syritsa to the development team remains unclear. His stage win in Malaysia was already his fourth victory in the race, as he had won three stages in the two previous editions. The Russian powerhouse (standing 1.90 meters tall and weighing 85 kilos) had also started to make his mark in other races following his strong performances in Asia. He finished fourth in a stage of the Tour of Oman and fifth in stage six of the UAE Tour. In the ZLM Tour, Syritsa impressively finished in the top five four times, including two second-place finishes.
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
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- 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
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