The XDS Astana crew’s push to realize sufficient issues to stay within the WorldTour on the finish of the three-year promotion/relegation cycle this 12 months has gotten off to a flying get started. The crew went from being twenty first within the 2024 UCI ratings to 2nd, most effective positioned in the back of Tadej Pogačar’s UAE Group Emirates squad after two months of racing in 2025.
Then again, the crew nonetheless have an extended approach to move within the three-year ratings after dismal issues hauls in 2023 and 2024. They’re nonetheless in twenty first position within the 2023-2025 ratings as of February 24, with a deficit of three,397.91 issues on 18th positioned Cofidis. That margin is down from 4,719.57 issues on the finish of closing season.
Whilst XDS Astana have closed the distance to Cofidis, and the opposite two groups simply forward of them – Arkéa-B&B Resorts and Uno-X Mobility – that leaves Seventeenth-placed Picnic-PostNL most effective every other 218.58 issues forward of the 18th spot, and may also be beneath force to realize issues to steer clear of relegation.
Group supervisor Dario Cataldo instructed Wielerflits this week that the crew has been operating on filling efficiency gaps since closing 12 months after they focussed on turning in Mark Cavendish to a file collection of degree wins within the Excursion de France.
“It is not always easy to put your finger on what exactly was missing and how you fill those gaps,” Cataldo stated. “Moreover, you cannot achieve something like that in two days. It is a combination of good riders, good staff members and good material that ensures a motivated group. The good results are the result when all those pillars come together.”
The crew has benefitted from performances reminiscent of Chirstian Scaroni’s general win within the Excursion des Alpes and Vintage Var in addition to his different podium placings. Aaron Gate’s 2nd position within the Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Highway Race used to be value 250 issues whilst riders reminiscent of Max Kanter, Clément Champoussin and Matteo Malucelli have more than one most sensible 10’s contributing to their tally.
A mix of a money infusion from the Chinese language bicycle maker XDS and a powerful record of recruits getting into the crew for 2025, focussed now not on Grand Excursion general finishes however a greater variety of effects.
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“We opted for riders who have proven that they can be consistent throughout the season,” Cataldo stated. “You also have very good riders who can only peak in a few races per season, but we ignored them.
“Then you’ve got an excellent chief for the classification within the Excursion de France, as an example. However that may be a tough function to reach, and with the ones guys you pass over a big a part of the remainder of the season. All of us have guys who can rating a large number of issues in all one-day races and quick degree races. They know what they’ve to do, we’ve a just right core.”
The team still believe they can remain in the WorldTour, he added.
“We nonetheless imagine in that. We now not most effective have just right riders, but additionally made smart possible choices within the calendar. In spite of everything, there’s a just right technique, however it’s basically centered in this 12 months.
“If we are no longer in the WorldTour next year, is that a disaster? Aren’t there still big teams that are no longer WorldTeams, but can still ride all the big races? Of course you might miss a few races, but you can continue to race at a high level.”
