Italian cyclist Davide Ballerini has signed a one-year contract with the Astana Qazaqstan Team, making a return to the team after a previous stint in 2019. Ballerini expressed his excitement about rejoining the team, stating, “I am very happy to come back to Astana Qazaqstan Team and I am sure that together we can achieve something good.”
Ballerini is known for his expertise in Northern classic races and has had several notable achievements in recent years. He won a stage at the Tour de Pologne and finished second in the Brussels Cycling Classic in 2020. In 2021, he won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and two stages in the Tour de la Provence. In 2022, he became the winner of the Coppa Bernocchi and a stage at Tour de Wallonie.
General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team, Alexandr Vinokurov, spoke highly of Ballerini’s abilities, stating, “We know Davide very well as a true professional, a strong classic rider, and a loyal team player. We’d like to see Davide as one of the team leaders in the Northern classics, but also as a team player and stage hunter in the Grand tours.”
Ballerini’s return to Astana Qazaqstan Team is expected to bring new goals and motivation for the upcoming season. He expressed his focus on the Northern classic races, particularly Paris-Roubaix. With Ballerini’s talent and the team’s support, both parties are optimistic about achieving important results in the future.
Photo credit: @SprintCycling
