The start of the season is almost two months away but the Astana team is intensifying its preparations for 2012 with two back-to-back training camps being held this month. On Monday the riders will meet in Montecatini in Italy and stay there until Thursday, after which they will fly to Calpe in Spain for the start of a ten day camp there.
Apart from building fitness, the aim will be to ensure the equipment and bike setup is fine-tuned for the riders, as well as to discuss plans for the season.
The Astana team will once again be led by Alexandre Vinokourov in 2012, and will be bolstered by the addition of riders like Vuelta a España stage winner Borut Bozic, 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné victor Janez Brajkovic, Vuelta al Pais Vasco stage winner Francesco Gavazzi and the promising Belgian rider Kevin Seeldraeyers.
Riders like Roman Kreuziger, Fredrik Kessiakoff and Valentin Iglinskiy continue from the 2011 team and with Vinokourov almost certain to retire next year, should have stronger opportunities to push for big results. The team will encourage that too, as Vinokourov’s points were a big reason why the squad was able to hold onto its ProTeam licence. Others will need to step up to ensure that the team retains its place in cycling’s elite for 2013.