After months of hypothesis, Mark Cavendish’s future workforce for 2023 has lastly been confirmed, with Astana Qazaqstan saying that the Manxman has inked a take care of the Kazakhstani WorldTour workforce.
Cavendish will subsequently be capable of struggle for a record-beating thirty fifth Tour de France stage win this summer time with a WorldTour squad that has assured participation in biking’s largest stage race.
Astana’s curiosity in signing Cavendish first grew to become public in mid-December when workforce supervisor Alexandr Vinokourov acknowledged to Cyclingnews that he had known as Cavendish after the B&B Resorts venture collapsed.
The 37-year-old then travelled to Spain to go to the workforce at their coaching camp as a contract was formalised, however Christmas and New 12 months got here and went with out an announcement.
On Tuesday afternoon, with Cavendish having joined the most recent coaching camp in Spain, the workforce lastly introduced that the Manxman has joined on a one-year deal.
“I’m actually excited for this journey. I raced with Alexandr Vinokurov for a few years, and now I’m racing along with his two boys! I keep in mind once they have been kids the identical age as my very own, dreaming to be bike racers,” Cavendish mentioned.
“Astana Qazaqstan Staff goes to be an excellent place to achieve success, with a robust workforce led by Alexandr, a champion on the bike and a gentleman off the bike. I’ve loved an extended profession already, however the pleasure of driving my bike and the starvation to proceed profitable are as brilliant as ever.
“So I’m wanting ahead to being a part of a profitable workforce, whether or not working with the workforce for wins, crossing the road first myself, or cheering on my teammates. As all the time, the target shall be for us to face on the highest podium.”
Vinokourov added: “Nicely, Mark Cavendish doesn’t want any presentation. He’s the very best sprinter of all instances, and I’m glad to welcome Mark in Astana Qazaqstan Staff.
“Mark nonetheless has an enormous need to win and we’re going to help this sense with all our forces in all form of races.”
‘The arrival of a prime sprinter is a problem for us’
Cavendish’s last-minute signing for Astana Qazaqstan will see him be a part of a squad which has received all three Grand Excursions however whose line-up presently has a obvious lack of stage racing leaders.
Already significantly depleted after Vincenzo Nibali retired on the finish of this season, the sacking of Miguel Angel López due to alleged connections to a physician beneath investigation for doping, had left the Astana workforce bereft of skilled high-profile racers.
Cees Bol was additionally understood to have joined Astana Qazaqstan as a part of the deal, though there was no official phrase from the workforce that the Dutch sprinter, who was additionally certain for B&B Resorts, is now a part of the squad.
“The arrival of a prime sprinter in our workforce is form of problem for us, however we’re prepared for it. We see new methods and new potentialities,” Vinokourov mentioned.
“The targets nevertheless are nonetheless the identical – victories in any form of race: Classics, phases in numerous stage races and, after all, within the Grand Excursions.”
Cavendish will use a Wilier Triestina bike in 2023 after two seasons on a Specialised at QuickStep-AlphaVinyl. In accordance with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, the Gastaldelli household, the homeowners of Wilier Triestina, have been instrumental in offering a part of the additional funding wanted to carry Cavendish to Astana.
Affirmation of Cavendish’s transfer to Astana Qazaqstan follows months of hypothesis about his future after Soudal-QuickStep designated Fabio Jakobsen as their number-one sprinter for 2023 and likewise went on to signal Tim Merlier from Alpecin-Deceunink.
The French B&B Resorts venture, doubtlessly with a number of big-name sponsors on board and with Cavendish becoming a member of as workforce chief, had been introduced on the final day of the 2022 Tour. However the sponsors have been by no means confirmed and workforce supervisor Jérôme Pineau was pressured to admit the venture wouldn’t occur in early December, leaving riders and employees scrambling to search out different groups.
Rumours that Cavendish might signal for Ineos Grenadiers, Israel-Premier Tech or Human Powered Well being all gained floor after which fizzled out, however lastly Astana Qazaqstan have proved to be the Briton’s choice for the ninth skilled workforce of his profession.
