Alexandre Vinokourov. Photo by Vladimir Dmitriyev©
Kazakhstan cyclist Aleksandr Vinokourov will continue playing for Astana cycling team both as a cyclist and a manager, Tengrinews.kz reports. “There are no tasks set for the next season yet. It is unlikely that I will set goals like Tour de France for myself. I will try to prepare for the beginning of the season and will take part in managing the team along with our manager Giuseppe Martinelli,” Vinokourov said. According to him, one of the main goals of his “return” to cycling is that Kazakhstan keeps 4 Olympic licenses for the next year. The cyclist is currently recovering from trauma he received at Tour de France. “Bicycle is like rehabilitation after such surgeries. I started training on simulators, and I have been cycling along highroads in the last week. It is hard to go back to my previous condition, but this is a normal case. Our main race will be in January-February, that is why there is still time to recover,” Kazakhstan sportsman said. Commenting his appointment as one of the managers of the team, Vinokourov noted that it is a big responsibility for him. He is counting on help and support from the second manager, Giuseppe Martinelli and other management of the team. Vinokourov announced retirement a week after crashing out of Tour de France with a thigh fracture. But later he decided to come back for one year to keep Astana one of the leaders of the world cycling. By Dmitriy Dubovitskiy
Kazakhstan cyclist Aleksandr Vinokourov will continue playing for Astana cycling team both as a cyclist and a manager, Tengrinews.kz reports.
“There are no tasks set for the next season yet. It is unlikely that I will set goals like Tour de France for myself. I will try to prepare for the beginning of the season and will take part in managing the team along with our manager Giuseppe Martinelli,” Vinokourov said.
According to him, one of the main goals of his “return” to cycling is that Kazakhstan keeps 4 Olympic licenses for the next year. The cyclist is currently recovering from trauma he received at Tour de France. “Bicycle is like rehabilitation after such surgeries. I started training on simulators, and I have been cycling along highroads in the last week. It is hard to go back to my previous condition, but this is a normal case. Our main race will be in January-February, that is why there is still time to recover,” Kazakhstan sportsman said.
Commenting his appointment as one of the managers of the team, Vinokourov noted that it is a big responsibility for him. He is counting on help and support from the second manager, Giuseppe Martinelli and other management of the team.
Vinokourov announced retirement a week after crashing out of Tour de France with a thigh fracture. But later he decided to come back for one year to keep Astana one of the leaders of the world cycling.
By Dmitriy Dubovitskiy