Transfer
Wout Poels signs with Astana for one year
20 August 2024
Wout Poels has signed a one-year contract with the WorldTour team Astana Qazaqstan Team for the 2025 season. Poels hopes to fulfil his dream with the team from Kazakhstan: winning a stage in the Giro.
Poels (36) is known as a strong stage rider, performing well in the mountains. Last year, he won mountain stages in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. One of his main achievements is his victory in the monumental classic race Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2016.
Wout Poels said: “I am excited about my move to Astana Qazaqstan Team. The team has been in the professional peloton for many years, with an impressive number of major victories, and it’s great to join such a group. Next year, I want to show the best of what I am capable of. I have a dream – to win a stage in the Giro d’Italia and thus join the list of riders who have won stages in all three Grand Tours. I am looking forward to the moment I can join the team. Astana Qazaqstan Team already has Dutch riders, Cees Bol and Ide Schelling, and it will be great to be in the same team with them.”
SEG Cycling Director Eelco Berkhout said: "We have been working with Wout since we helped him with the transition from Vacansoleil to Quick Step, which was around 2013. He is now in the autumn of his career but is still performing at an incredibly high level.”
“Wout hopes to add a stage win in the Giro to his list of achievements. He indicated to us that he was ready for a new challenge with another team. That’s smart because a new environment can stimulate you to challenge yourself again. We have had good experiences with Astana Qazaqstan. Mark Cavendish achieved his 35th stage victory in the Tour with Astana this year.”
“Wout will take it year by year. As long as he maintains this level, he wants to continue. All in all, a great step for him. We are happy that we have been able to assist Wout in adding this chapter to his career."
Wout Poels said: “I am excited about my move to Astana Qazaqstan Team. The team has been in the professional peloton for many years, with an impressive number of major victories, and it’s great to join such a group. Next year, I want to show the best of what I am capable of. I have a dream – to win a stage in the Giro d’Italia and thus join the list of riders who have won stages in all three Grand Tours. I am looking forward to the moment I can join the team. Astana Qazaqstan Team already has Dutch riders, Cees Bol and Ide Schelling, and it will be great to be in the same team with them.”
SEG Cycling Director Eelco Berkhout said: "We have been working with Wout since we helped him with the transition from Vacansoleil to Quick Step, which was around 2013. He is now in the autumn of his career but is still performing at an incredibly high level.”
“Wout hopes to add a stage win in the Giro to his list of achievements. He indicated to us that he was ready for a new challenge with another team. That’s smart because a new environment can stimulate you to challenge yourself again. We have had good experiences with Astana Qazaqstan. Mark Cavendish achieved his 35th stage victory in the Tour with Astana this year.”
“Wout will take it year by year. As long as he maintains this level, he wants to continue. All in all, a great step for him. We are happy that we have been able to assist Wout in adding this chapter to his career."