Offensive Astana Qazaqstan Team Finishes La Vuelta 2022 with Satisfaction and Mixed Feelings
The Astana Qazaqstan Team has concluded the La Vuelta 2022 with a fourth-place overall finish and a combination of satisfaction and mixed feelings. The team had high hopes and ambitions for the race, aiming for stage victories but ultimately falling short.
“We are very satisfied, but there’s something nagging me. With this strong team, with Lopez, Lutsenko, Nibali, De La Cruz and Battistella, our goal was to win a stage. We were close but at decisive moments we missed some luck. When Battistella was second on Las Praeres, there was just one stronger rider, but his sprint against Herrada in Cistierna was a missed opportunity”, – said Giuseppe Martinelli, Sports Director of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
“In the Overall we finish 4th, and we have to enjoy it. It was not an easy year for me, but the team had confidence and they were so attentive and devoted to me. It was maybe not always visible, but they did a great job from day one until the end. It was an honor to have Vincenzo Nibali working for me. Or Alexey Lutsenko, a great man as well as rider. Tejada, Fedorov, Pronskiy, De La Cruz or Battistella, they all gave everything for me”, – said Miguel Angel Lopez.
“The final podium was another goal of us, but we need to be realistic too. There were so many uncertainties before La Vuelta. After his injury from the Giro, Miguel Angel was six, seven weeks without a bike. He had just six weeks to prepare to La Vuelta. In the first week he missed some sharpness and lost too much time, but that’s logical. And then you race against big talents. Evenepoel is 22, Ayuso is just 19. More and more we will need to watch out for the young guns.We were active every day but missed a stage win. So, there’s a big contentment, rather than happiness. It is never easy to compose a competitive team for races in August-September, but we did. I am proud of the guys”, – added Giuseppe Martinelli.
“The most important thing is that we were fighting three weeks long, but it is true that we leave La Vuelta with a bittersweet taste”, – said Miguel Angel Lopez.
The team performed admirably throughout the race, with Miguel Angel Lopez securing a fourth-place overall finish. However, their primary goal of winning a stage eluded them, despite coming close on multiple occasions.
Sports Director Giuseppe Martinelli expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance but also acknowledged the missed opportunities for stage victories. He highlighted the strong roster and the dedication of the riders, particularly mentioning the contributions of Vincenzo Nibali and Alexey Lutsenko.
Miguel Angel Lopez, reflecting on the race, emphasized the challenging nature of La Vuelta and the tough competition from young riders like Remco Evenepoel and Juan Ayuso. Despite leaving with a bittersweet feeling, Lopez expressed gratitude for his team’s support throughout the three-week race.
While the Astana Qazaqstan Team didn’t achieve all their objectives in La Vuelta 2022, their performance and unity as a team earned them satisfaction and recognition. With their strong showing, they continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of cycling.
Supported by the General Partner “Samruk-Kazyna” and the Sports Support Foundation “SportQory”.
Photo credit: @Gettysport
