What to expect this year
In short Astana want, and are more than capable of achieving, Grand Tour success. Giro d’Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali enjoyed phenomenal success in his debut year with the Kazakh team – the Italian Grand Tour complemented by second place at the Vuelta a Espana and victories at the Giro del Trentino and Tirreno-Adriatico. Now he is turning his attention to the Tour de France, having finished third behind Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome in 2012.
Nibali will not defend his Giro title as a result, but new signing Michele Scarponi – the 2011 maglia rosa victor following the annulment of Alberto Contador’s result, and fourth in both the last two years – will lead Astana’s charge instead. Scarponi left Lampre-Merida to ensure he was still given sufficient opportunity to compete for Grand Tours, and he will be desperate to thank his new team with a Giro victory. The experienced Italian will then support his compatriot Nibali at the Tour, with fellow new signing Lieuwe Westra and Dane Jacob Fuglsang – who proved he is also capable of competing for GC honours after finishing seventh in France last year with a stripped-back support team – providing hugely impressive backing.
Who’s new for 2014?
Michele Scarponi (ITA) from Lampre-Merida, Lieuwe Westra (NED) from Vacansoleil-DCM, Valentin Iglinskiy (KAZ) from Ag2r-La Mondiale, Mikel Landa (ESP) from Euskaltel-Euskadi, Daniil Fominykh (KAZ) from Continental Team Astana.
Who has left?
Egor Silin (RUS) to Katusha, Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL) to Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Simone Ponzi (ITA) to Neri-Sottoli, Assan Bazayev (KAZ) retired.
Riders to watch
Vincenzo Nibali – It goes without saying, the Shark is a serious threat to Chris Froome at the Tour de France
Michele Scarponi – Desperate to regain the maglia rosa and likely to be an influential road captain at the Tour
Jacob Fuglsang – May have to forego own GC ambitions this year, but not too many teams can boast a super-domestique as strong as the Dane
