Colombian rider Harold Tejada has agreed to a contract extension with the Astana Qazaqstan Team, ensuring his presence with the team for the 2024 season.
Tejada, who turned pro with the team in 2020, expressed his excitement about the extension and his ambitions for the upcoming season:
“After four years in the team, I feel that the moment has come when results appear. And this season everything started to work out – I spent a good second half of the year and achieved the first podium at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. But, for me this is just the beginning, and I don’t want to stop – I am seriously preparing for the new season and will strive for the main goal – winning races. I thank the team for the support, for believing in me and my talent as a rider. The last seasons have been difficult for the whole team, but I see that we are still moving forward, and the victories will not take long. I am very happy that I can continue my career in this wonderful team, where I feel a lot of support, where I know that everything can work out. The project is developing, continues to grow, and I am sure that the new season will be successful”, – said Harold Tejada.
Tejada has shown promise since joining the team, with notable performances in races such as Challenge Mont Ventoux and the Tour de France. He has also been a valuable team player in five Grand Tours.
This season, Tejada achieved some significant results, including a 10th place finish in the General Classification of the Tour de Suisse and an 8th place finish in the Gran Piemonte. He also earned his first professional podium in the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, finishing third behind the race winner and his teammate Alexey Lutsenko.
“After several tough years, which it took Harold to gain experience and become a professional rider, this season he began to achieve his first serious results. We see him more and more often in the Top-10 at important mountain stages, he had a solid Tour de Suisse and spent the Tour of Turkey wonderfully, where he supported Alexey Lutsenko but also achieved his own podium. We hope that progress will continue in the new season with not only some good results but also with the victories. Harold is a great team rider, but he also has everything he needs to win races”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
The Astana Qazaqstan Team is optimistic about Tejada’s potential and believes that he has what it takes to achieve more success in the future. With the extension of his contract, Tejada will have the opportunity to continue his career with the team and contribute to their pursuit of victories.
Photo credit: @SprintCycling
