Astana Qazaqstan Team is a professional road bicycle racing team sponsored by the Samruk-Kazyna, a coalition of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan and named after its capital city Astana. Astana attained UCI ProTeam status in its inaugural year, 2007. Following a major doping scandal involving Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov, team management was terminated and new management brought in for the 2008 season. The team was then managed by Johan Bruyneel, former team manager of U.S. Postal/Discovery Channel team. Under Bruyneel the ethical nature of the team did not improve, although Astana in this period was very successful. With a lineup including Grand Tour winner Alberto Contador, as well as runner-up Andreas Klöden the results were there, however the team was on the verge of financial collapse in May 2009. A battle for control of the team led to the return of Vinokourov for the 2009 Vuelta a España caused Bruyneel and at least fourteen of its riders to leave at the end of the 2009 season, most for Team RadioShack. Only four Spanish riders, including Contador, and most of the Kazakhs remained with the rebuilt team for 2010. Those four Spaniards all left the team for Saxo Bank–SunGard in 2011.
Alexander Nikolayevich Vinokourov is a Kazakhstani former professional road bicycle racer and the current general manager of UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team. He is of Russian origin. As a competitor, his achievements include two bronze medals at the World Championships, four stage wins in the Tour de France, four in the Vuelta a España plus the overall title in 2006, two Liège–Bastogne–Liège monuments, one Amstel Gold Race, and most recently, the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics Men's Road Race. Vinokourov is a past national champion of Kazakhstan, and a dual-medalist at the Summer Olympics. In 2007, he received a two-year ban from cycling for blood doping. In 2019, he was accused of race fixing by prosecutors in Liège but was later cleared of the charges.
Andrey Grigorievich Kashechkin is a Kazakhstani road racing cyclist, who last rode for the UCI ProTour team Astana.
Andrey Sergeyevich Zeits is a Kazakh road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team. In 2009, Zeits rode the Giro d'Italia, the first grand tour of his career, which he finished in 31st place.
Fabio Aru is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2012 and 2021 for the Astana, UAE Team Emirates and Team Qhubeka NextHash squads. He hails from San Gavino Monreale in Sardinia, and is known for his climbing ability, which made him a favorite for the Grand Tours. He is known as "The Knight of the four Moors", a reference to his native island of Sardinia.
Alexey Alexandrovich Lutsenko is a Kazakh professional cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team.
The 2013 season for the Astana cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
The 2014 season for the Astana cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
This season was sponsored by the Samruk-Kazyna group as well as Air Astana, Astana Motors and Expo 2017.
Arman Gabidoullovitch Kamyshev is a Kazakh road racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team Vino–Astana Motors.
Ruslan Bakhytzhanovich Tleubayev is a Kazakh former cyclist, who competed professionally for the Astana team between 2013 and 2018.
The 2015 season for the Astana cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI WorldTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
Maxat Mukhtarovich Ayazbayev is a Kazakh former road cyclist, who currently works as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team Almaty Cycling Team.
Ilya Davidenok is a Kazakhstani cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Almaty Cycling Team.
The 2016 season for the Astana cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI WorldTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
Nurbolat Kulimbetov is a Kazakh former professional cyclist.
The 2018 season for the Astana cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI WorldTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
Vadim Denisovich Pronskiy is a Kazakh cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team.
The 2019 season for the Astana cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under. As a UCI WorldTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.
The 2020 season for the Astana cycling team began in January at the Tour Down Under.
