Alberto Bettiol joins Astana Qazaqstan Team
Starting today, August 15th, Italian rider Alberto Bettiol will join Astana Qazaqstan Team. The mid-season transfer occurred by mutual agreement with EF Education-EasyPost team. The contract with the rider includes the remainder of the current season as well as three additional years (2025–2027), the team informed on its website.
The 30-year-old Italian rider Alberto Bettiol is a recognized specialist in classic races. Among his major achievements are victories at the Monument Tour of Flanders (2019) and the world’s oldest classic race, Milan-Torino (2024), as well as a 2nd place at the Bretagne Classic (2016). Bettiol has also won a stage at the Giro d’Italia (2021) and the Tour Down Under (2023). Additionally, he is the current Italian road race national champion.
“I was impressed by the interest the team showed in me and by the attitude I saw from Alexandr Vinokurov. All of this convinced me that I am making the right choice by making this move even in the middle of the season. I want to thank my previous team, EF Education-EasyPost, for all these years during which I have become the rider I am today. Yes, Astana Qazaqstan Team is a new team for me, but I’m confident that integrating into the team will be easy because I am already familiar with many of the riders and staff members. I can’t wait to meet the team and race together," Alberto Bettiol says.
He adds that he doesn't know his exact program yet, the calendar is being discussed.
"For now, I am at the altitude training camp in Livigno, preparing for the second half of the season," he adds.
In turn, Alexandr Vinokuro noted that Alberto Bettiolwas primarily a reinforcement for classic and one-day races.
"I am grateful to the management of EF Education-EasyPost for their open and friendly approach during the discussions and preparation for this mid-season transfer, and I am pleased that we found many common goals and prospects with Alberto for his future in our team. Together with other riders, Bettiol will form a strong group capable of competing for top positions in classic races of any level. We are still discussing Alberto’s exact calendar, but I believe that we will soon see the Italian champion’s jersey in Astana Qazaqstan Team," he says.
