XDS Astana partners with Women's ProTeam

XDS Astana Team has signed a cooperation agreement with Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi, a Basque Women's ProTeam. The agreement is valid for 2026 and aims to establish a long-term collaboration between the two teams.

The Chinese bicycle manufacturer XDS sponsors both XDS Astana and Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi. The plan is to collaborate on the development, testing, and improvement of bikes, components, and other equipment.

Additionally, Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi will play a role in developing women’s cycling in Kazakhstan. Talented Kazakh riders will have the opportunity to intern with the Basque team, gain professional-level experience, and potentially progress to the main squad.

Vinokourov: “Great opportunities for women’s cycling in Kazakhstan”
“Laboral Kutxa–Euskadi plays an important role in women’s cycling,” says Alexander Vinokourov, team manager at XDS Astana, in a statement on the team’s site. “This year, the team switched to X-LAB bikes from our sponsor XDS. In the first month of the new season, the team has already achieved nine victories. We fully support the technical collaboration between our projects.”

“Moreover, this partnership opens great opportunities for women’s cycling in Kazakhstan. Talented riders will have the chance to intern with one of the best ProTeams in the world and eventually sign professional contracts.”

Marjolein van ’t Geloof
Currently, there are no Kazakh riders under contract with Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi. The best-known names on the roster are Usoa Ostolaza, Arianna Fidanza, Paula Patiño, and Marjolein van ’t Geloof. The latter has already won twice for the team this year, both times in El Salvador. Incidentally, eight of the nine victories Vinokourov referred to were achieved in that Central American country.