Aaron Gate and Matteo Malucelli will also race for XDS Astana in the coming seasons. After a successful cycling year—in which the team admirably avoided relegation from the WorldTour—the New Zealander and Italian have signed extensions through the end of 2027.
Aaron Gate (34) had a very strong season. He kicked off his year with a second place in the WorldTour one-day race Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. He then secured stage wins in the Tour of Hainan (along with a third place in the overall classification) and the Tour de Langkawi. In between, he also claimed a stage and overall victory at the Boucles de la Mayenne.
The experienced Gate initially focused on track cycling—and successfully so, boasting eleven World Championship medals and an Olympic bronze—but in recent years he has shifted his focus to road racing. At the recent Tour de Langkawi, he concluded his first WorldTour season with a victory in the final stage, after which we reflected with Gate about his career.
As a result, he has earned a contract extension for the next two seasons. “I can look back on a fantastic cycling year with XDS Astana,” he said on the team website. “I achieved some great personal results in China, Malaysia, and France while also supporting my teammates in their hunt for victories. I’m very happy to be part of this team, where I felt at home instantly.”
Malucelli won, among others, in the Tour of Turkey – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
Victory King Malucelli
Matteo Malucelli (31) also had an exceptionally successful season. The 31-year-old Italian is the top winner for XDS Astana in 2025 with eight victories. The sprinter scored wins this year in the Tour of Hainan, Tour of Turkey, Tour de Langkawi (three stage wins), and the Tour of Taihu Lake (two stage victories plus the overall classification). Malucelli also earned his team a significant number of UCI points.
“I’m very happy with my contract extension. I race for an amazing team. This year, we had an ambitious goal to collect as many points as possible and stay in the WorldTour, and together we achieved that. It was a successful season with many victories and podium finishes. I’m proud to have contributed to that success. Now I want to build on this and perform again in the new season.”
Aaron Gate| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2027 | |
| 2026 | |
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 |
Matteo Malucelli| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2027 | |
| 2026 | |
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 |
