One of the most experienced Kazakh riders, Dmitriy Gruzdev, will continue to ride for Astana Qazaqstan Team for another season. The team announced that Gruzdev, 37, has signed a contract for the 2024 season.
Despite the challenges of the current season, Gruzdev and the team achieved some of their goals. He expressed his satisfaction with their performance at the Asian Cycling Championships and the Asian Summer Games, where they secured gold medals. Gruzdev stated, “I feel that there is still strength, there is a desire to work, to be useful to the team, to give myself completely for the sake of common goals. Therefore, I consider the new season together with Astana Qazaqstan Team as another opportunity to help the team with everything I know in cycling.”
Gruzdev has been a part of the Astana Qazaqstan Team for 12 full seasons, participating in 9 Grand Tours and 20 Monumental classic races. He has always been a loyal helper to team leaders and a valuable asset to the National Team of Kazakhstan. In 2023, Gruzdev won a gold medal in the Mixed Relay and finished 5th in the road race of the Asian Summer Games.
In recognition of Gruzdev’s dedication and experience, Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team, praised him, saying, “Dmitriy Gruzdev is a 100% loyal team rider who has devoted his entire career to helping leaders at races of any level… Dmitriy has invaluable experience, which the team needs, and which we can use both in working with young Kazakh riders and to achieve the set team tasks.”
Gruzdev’s extension with the team will provide stability and expertise as they continue to pursue their cycling goals.
