XDS Astana's Aaron Gate takes podium in Australia

Aaron Gate has secured XDS Astana Team’s first UCI WorldTour podium of the season, finishing second at the one-day race Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Kazinform News Agency cites the team's press service. 

Gate won the sprint from the chasing group, which crossed the finish line three seconds behind Swiss rider Mauro Schmid, who launched a solo attack in the final part of the 183-kilometer course.

“The whole team put in a huge effort today to set me up for the best possible position in the finale. Our plan was to be in the lead group and fight for the sprint. My teammates stayed with me the whole time, helping me position well before the circuit and then leading into the climb, so everything went as planned. It was extremely hot today, which made the race even tougher – many riders struggled in these conditions. On the final climb, only a few of us were left in the front group when Mauro Schmid attacked. We couldn’t close the gap immediately, and after that, it turned into a tactical battle. Of course, it would have been great to fight for the win, but in the end, we sprinted for second place, and I think it’s a solid result and a great step forward for the team. After our January training camp and this block of racing in Australia, I feel like I’ve built some good form. Now, I’ll focus on the New Zealand National Championships next week and then the UAE Tour, which will be my next race with the team. I know today is the final day of racing in Mallorca, so I want to wish our team success there”, – said Aaron Gate.

“It was a great day for us. Aaron Gate was our team leader today, and the squad worked hard all day to protect him and put him in a strong position for the finale. The race was held in extreme heat, which made it incredibly tough for everyone. In the final, Aaron managed to stay with the favorites and be part of the leading group. From there, it became a tactical battle – some riders attacked, while others organized the chase. In the end, Schmid made his move at the right moment and managed to stay away, while Aaron won the sprint from the group behind. I believe this was the best possible result for us today, and the entire team should be proud of this achievement”, – said Mark Renshaw, XDS Astana Team’s Sports Director.

As earlier reported, XDS Astana Team revealed a roster for the Trofeo Andratx-Pollença 2025.