Igor Chzhan Signs Two-Year Deal with Astana Qazaqstan Team
Asian road race champion Igor Chzhan has signed a two-year deal with the Kazakh WorldTour Astana Qazaqstan Team. Chzhan spent three months of stagiary and four races with Astana before securing a contract for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
“A new and very important chapter of my career is beginning. Of course, I am very happy to sign a contract with Astana Qazaqstan Team and to get an opportunity to compete in the WorldTour side by side with the best riders in the world, to represent the colors of my country in the highest league of world cycling. Besides, of course, it is also a great responsibility, which motivates me very much, because I understand that there is a lot of work ahead. There is always something to learn and to strive for. I thank the team management for their trust, and I will try to justify it”, – said Igor Chzhan.
During the 2022 season, Chzhan achieved his biggest success by winning the road race of the Asian Cycling Championships as a member of the National Team. He also took second place in the individual time trial of the Kazakhstan National Championships, won the Grand Prix Velo Alanya, and finished third in the overall classification of the Tour of Sakarya.
As a trainee with Astana Qazaqstan Team, Chzhan participated in several races, including the Arctic Race of Norway, Tour of Slovakia, Le Tour de Langkawi, and Gran Piemonte. While primarily supporting team leaders, Chzhan also showcased his abilities with a 9th place finish in the queen mountain stage of the Arctic Race of Norway and a 20th place overall finish in the Tour of Slovakia.
“As I have already said, for several years we have been closely following not only the performance, but also the progress of Igor Chzhan. In the last two years, the rider has demonstrated stable growth and results, so a stagiary in our team was a logical step. Igor showed himself worthily in those races where he competed as part of Astana Qazaqstan Team, he supported the leaders really well and gained experience, which he will need vitally in the future. There is a lot of work to be done together ahead, and I believe that our team is the best place to develop young domestic riders, giving them a chance to prove themselves in the WorldTour – the main cycling league of the world”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov.
The signing of Chzhan is part of Astana Qazaqstan Team’s commitment to developing young domestic riders in the WorldTour. Chzhan’s contract with Astana Qazaqstan Team is supported by the General Partner “Samruk-Kazyna” and the Sports Support Foundation “SportQory.”
Photo credit: @Gettysport
