Competitions

Pro Team Astana: squad for Vuelta a Espana

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Parent Category: Competitions

Category: Race 2011

Published on Thursday, 18 August 2011 11:34

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Here is the squad of our 9 riders that will compete for the Kazakh Team during Vuelta a Espana 2011:

Fredrik KESSIAKOFF (SWE) - Robert KISERLOVSKI (CRO) - Andrey KASHECHKIN (KAZ) - Alexandr DYACHENKO (KAZ) - Enrico GASPAROTTO (ITA) - Josep JUFRE (SPA) - Tanel KANGERT (EST) - Andrey MIZUROV (KAZ) - Evgeny PETROV (RUS)

The team manager Giuseppe Martinelli, commented "We are well prepared, 80% of the the riders took part in Tour of Poland. We have a strong team in the mountains with riders such as Kessiakoff, Kiserlovski Mizurov and Kangert. We will also have our new recruit for the 2011 season, Andrey Kashechkin. He has the desire to do well, he is very motivated. Also, there is Enrico Gasparotto who looks good and could try to win a stage. We are in good condition and I hope we will seize every opportunity to make a beautiful race! We will have a charismatic leader in the person of Andrey Kashechkin (third overall in the Vuelta 2006), many Kazakhs believe in him. There will be also two strong men, Fredrik Kesssiakoff (winner of the last Tour of Austria) and Robert Kiserlovski. It is then on the road, that will be decided which rider among these three is the best to compete for the overall ranking. "

Giuseppe Martinelli, also gives us the objectives of the team "Our goal is to compete every day with men in the lead. Regarding the overall standings, we are targeting a Top 10 or Top 5. Also, we would be very proud to win like at the previous Giro d'Italia, the ranking of the best team! I think the start of the race will be very important. Especially with the first time trial and then in the first stages, we will manage not to waste time to start in the best conditions! "

Commercial Director of Team, Dr Aidar Makhmetov, also delivered his opinion on the squad “My feeling about our riders is good. I'm happy that we engaged Andrey Kashechkin in our team. We hope he will show good result. We also count on our young riders like Fredrik Kessiakoff and Robert Kiserlovski.”