Mark Cavendish's signing for Astana Qazaqstan Team was confirmed today, with the British champion and former world champion describing team principal Alexandr Vinokurov as a "champion" and a "gentleman". He also sounded very excited at the prospect of racing with his boss's two sons in the year ahead.
Alexandr Vinokurov, who served a two-year ban during his career for blood doping, late last year moved to declare his intertest in signing Cavendish when it appeared his anticipated team for 2023, the B&B Hotels-KTM outfit, was in danger of collapse. And after weeks of speculation, Astana Qazaqstan Team today confirmed it had signed Cavendish, releasing photographs of him in his British champion's jersey.
“I am really excited for this adventure," said Cavendish in a statement released by his new team. "I raced with Alexandr Vinokurov for many years, and now I’m racing with his two boys! I remember when they were children the same age as my own, dreaming to be bike racers.
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"Astana Qazaqstan Team is going to be a great place to be successful, with a strong team led by Alexandr, a champion on the bike and a gentleman off the bike. I’ve enjoyed a long career already, but the joy of riding my bike and the hunger to continue winning are as bright as ever. So I’m looking forward to being part of a successful team, whether working with the team for wins, crossing the line first myself, or cheering on my teammates. As always, the objective will be for us to stand on the top podium."
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Cavendish was referring to Vinokurov's 20-year-old twin sons - Nicolas and Alexandre - who race for the Astana Qazaqstan Development Team. They would be eligible to step up into the World Tour squad at times during this season for some events.
It appears Cavendish, who is chasing a record-breaking 35th stage win on the Tour de France this year, has signed a one-year deal with his new team. After several years in the wilderness due to illness, Cavendish stormed back to form in 2021 with four stage wins and the points classification victory at the Tour de France. He currently has 34 Tour stage wins, equal with Eddy Merckx in the all-time winners list.
Alexandr Vinokurov, general manager of Astana Qazaqstan, said Cavendish "doesn't need any presentation" as a new signing as he was "the best sprinter of all times".
"The arrival of a top sprinter in our team is kind of challenge for us, but we are ready for it. We see new ways and new possibilities. The goals however are still the same – victories in any kind of race: classics, stages in different stage races and, of course, in the Grand Tours. Mark still has a big desire to win and we are going to support this feeling with all our forces in all kind of races."
