12 new riders, new bikes and now a new name - Changes keep coming at Astana Qazaqstan after Chinese investment

Alberto Bettiol was one of the riders brought in to bolster Astana's squad as a mid-season transfer in 2024
Alberto Bettiol was one of the riders brought in to bolster Astana's squad as a mid-season transfer in 2024 (Image credit: Getty Images)

With Chinese carbon product manufacturer XDS Carbon-Tech on board as a sponsor for 2025, Astana Qazaqstan will have new bikes, several new riders and a new name for the coming season - XdS (Carbon-Tech) - Astana Qazaqstan, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports.

It's the first time since the team's founding in 2007 that Astana, the team's state-funded sponsor, won't be the first name on their official title. The Shenzen-based company has become a major investor in the team and is looking to make "significant changes".

James Moultrie
News Writer

James Moultrie is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who joined Cyclingnews as a News Writer in 2023 after originally contributing as a freelancer for eight months, during which time he also wrote for Eurosport, Rouleur and Cycling Weekly. Prior to joining the team he reported on races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d’Italia Donne for Eurosport and has interviewed some of the sport’s top riders in Chloé Dygert, Lizzie Deignan and Wout van Aert. Outside of cycling, he spends the majority of his time watching other sports – rugby, football, cricket, and American Football to name a few.