Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
Kazakhstan | Team Website
Astana is a team that would have gladdened the hearts of the people behind the UCI’s original globalisation project: a Kazakh squad, led by an Italian and a Dane.
Since appearing on the scene in 2007, the squad has become a mainstay of the top-flight, with a host of wins in the world’s biggest races.
Most natably, Italian Vincenzo Nibali won the 2014 Tour de France after finishing third overall in the 2012 edition and claiming the Giro d’Italia victory in 2013.
The team successfully nurtured a new Grand Tour talent in the shape of Fabio Aru, who won the 2015 Vuelta a España after placing second in the Giro behind Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) earlier in the year.
With Nibali moving to Bahrain-Merida in 2017 and Aru to UAE Team Emirates in 2018, the squad is now without a big Grand Tour leader.
However, they have a couple of other riders quickly gaining momentum in bigger stage races: not least Jakob Fuglsang and Colombian prospect Miguel Ángel López.
Astana has also found success in one-day races and individual stages, with Michael Valgren, Omar Fraile, Alexey Lutsenko, Magnus Cort Nielsen and old hand Luis Leon Sanchez all claiming victories in recent seasons. Valgren’s wins in the 2018 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Amstel Gold Race shows that the team can be a force in the Classics.
Astana’s success, however, has been tempered by controversy over the years, including several doping cases within the team, including Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy both failing tests for banned blood booster EPO in late 2014.
The UCI conducted a review into the team and its management, and while the team’s WorldTour status looked in jeopardy, it was awarded a licence for 2015.
Ion Izagirre took stage four of the Tour of the Basque Country 2021 in a photo finish ahead of fellow Basque rider Pello Bilbao from a select group that went away on the descent of the final climb.
Alex Aranburu took stage two of the Tour of the Basque Country 2021 after he attacked in the closing 10km of the day holding off the fast-finishing group of favourites behind
The general manager of Astana-Premier Tech has said that he wants Vincenzo Nibali to return to his team for the last season of his career.
Ineos Grenadiers are circling the young Russian who has one year left on his contract with the Kazakh team
Astana has announced a new headline sponsor for 2021 after the team from Kazakhstan struggled for funds this year.
Miguel Ángel López is out of the Giro d’Italia after suffering a wound very close to an artery during a time trial crash.
Miguel Ángel López will be leaving Astana at the end of the season because the team can’t afford him.
Miguel Ángel López was emotional at the finish of stage 17 of the Tour de France, after a huge stage victory on the Col de la Loze,
Alexey Lutsenko blasted clear of his rivals to take the first breakaway victory of the 2020 Tour de France.
Miguel Ángel López collided with a road sign after the peloton opted to temporarily neutralise the racing on stage one of the Tour de France 2020.
Astana’s Hugo Houle had to sit out of Il Lombardia after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
The 2019 Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner beat George Bennett after Remco Evenepoel crashed out
The second addition of the one-day race saw a series of big attacks before the man from Astana took control
Extremely heavy rain meant that live pictures were very hard to come by and made for some intense racing
What’s your longest ride on Zwift?
The team boss says wages will be paid this week
Alexey Lutsenko said he “did not make any mistake in the final” after he was beaten by Tadej Pogačar on stage five of the UAE Tour 2020.
The Astana general manager also said he respects the UCI's fight against doping in cycling
The anti-doping investigators behind a leaked report have released a statement over allegations that two Astana riders had met with Dr Michele Ferrari.
Jakob Fuglsang and Alexey Lutsenko have both responded to the claims they have met with disgraced doping doctor Michele Ferrari.
The Italian doctor also said he has never been on a scooter in his life so couldn't have motor-paced the Danish rider, as allegations have claimed
Astana have released a statement responding to allegations centred around their Danish star Jakob Fuglsang.
Alexey Lutsenko is also accused of being present at one alleged meeting between the Dane and the doctor
Astana have announced they will ride Wilier Triestina bikes next season as their partnership with Argon 18 comes to an end.
Alexandre Vinokourov proved his longevity by winning the Ironman 70.3 world title for his age category in Nice.
