Alexey Lutsenko Makes History with Career-Best Seventh Place at Tour de France
Kazakh rider Alexey Lutsenko has achieved a career-best seventh place finish in the General Classification at the Tour de France, marking the first top ten result for a Kazakh rider since 2005. Lutsenko’s impressive performance throughout the race secured his place among the top contenders.
After crossing the finish line on the iconic Champs-Élysées, Lutsenko expressed his happiness and pride, saying, “To finish in seventh place is a big achievement for me, especially as a Kazakh rider. I want to thank all of my teammates as they supported me a lot throughout the race and helped me to fight to be in the top ten.”
His determination and hard work were praised by Astana – Premier Tech Managing Director Yana Seel, who stated, “Proud for Alexey, proud for Astana – Premier Tech and proud for Kazakhstan. Alexey didn’t give up throughout the three weeks, and his result really shows his determination in what was a tough race.”
The team narrowly missed out on a stage win multiple times but showcased their teamwork and aggressive approach. Team Performance Manager and Sports Director Dmitriy Fofonov commended their efforts, saying, “All of the team raced aggressively in the breakaways, and we had a good spirit in the team. We can be happy knowing we did our maximum every day and were able to finish with Alexey in seventh place overall.”
Lutsenko’s achievement highlights the growing prominence of Kazakh riders in professional cycling and serves as inspiration for young Kazakh athletes. The race was won by Tadej Pogacar of UAE-Team Emirates.
Photo credit: @Getty Images
