Final: Major Chinese firm invests in ambitious Astana, Kazakhstan

Chinese company XDS will invest in Astana, Kazakhstan. It has been rumored for some time that the two parties were negotiating with each other, but now a press release has announced that the deal has been closed.

XDS, a carbon products manufacturer, has committed to working in Astana, Kazakhstan for at least five years. The goal is for the Kazakh team to become one of the best teams in the WorldTour.

“Since 2022, we have been looking for an opportunity to participate in the WorldTour,” said Yankong Tan, CEO of XDS. “We were very fortunate to meet Astana Kazakhstan at an exhibition in Shanghai this year. During the talks, we were sure that Astana is the team we want. In the coming seasons, XDS will be the strongest sponsor of the team. We will make sure that the team has a sufficient budget and the best possible technical support.

Amazing changes
Alexander Vinokourov, Team Manager of Astana Kazakhstan, is delighted with the arrival of XDS. “We were looking for an investor who could take the team to a new level of development,” he says. “We are happy that the XDS management shares our goals and vision for the future. (…) XDS is ready for long-term investment.” Part of this includes cooperation with a new bike brand, the Kazakh is probably referring to X-Lab, which XDS manufactures.

“We realize that the team and the project as a whole will undergo some significant changes, but we are ready for that. I am excited to be a part of this project and look forward to the future with enthusiasm.

Reinforcements?
The Chinese investment should enable team boss Vinokourov to attract some reinforcements to score enough points to stay in the WorldTour. One of the names being considered for the team is Caden Groves, he wrote. Cycling News Previously. The Australian sprinter, who no longer has a contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck at the end of the season, must earn the necessary points in the sprint for the team, which is determined to retain its WorldTour status for the next licensing period from 2026 to 2029.