We took stock with him last year As a preamble to his first year as a professional, Nicolas Vinokurov takes stock for us of this first season with Astana where he won two victories (Tour of Japan and CLM U23 Asian Championship) and discovered the Vuelta. In 2025, he wants to continue to grow by actively participating in maintaining his WT training.
What is your assessment of your first year on the World Tour?
I would say I’m satisfied, but not happy. I am satisfied to have done very big races like the Vuelta. I learned well, I progressed well. I ran 71 days of races which is a lot for a first year. It allowed me to develop physically and mentally. I feel like I’m a lot more ready this year than last season.
You talk about the Vuelta, does it remain your best memory?
Let’s say that it was the race that made me understand how high the World Tour level was. A world separates the 2.1/2.Pro races from the WT. You see the difference. Before I didn’t believe it, I said to myself: “there must be a little more level”. But it’s a real step up!
Have other races left an impression on you?
I really like the Alula Tour and Tour of Oman sequence. I like running in the sun, especially at the start of the season, it’s good for my morale and it allows me to lose a little weight. Then we are not in extreme heat but in 25/30 degrees. We avoid the cold and rain that there is in Europe.
Is this a sequence that you will reproduce this season?
Normally yes. I’m supposed to start on Alula, then Oman. Afterwards, I’m scheduled on Paris-Nice to continue on to Milan-San Remo. There will then be the Tour of Hellas before leaving for the Tour of Türkiye.
I will then have a training camp in Sierra Nevada in May to prepare for the Dauphiné.
Do you feel ready to get off to a good start to this 2025 season?
So far it’s not bad. Knock on wood, but I’ve managed to avoid all the winter illnesses. I hope to get off to a good start. I was scheduled for the Asian Championships, but they took me away at the last moment. I want to perform to help the team score UCI points.
Exactly, we imagine that the staff’s speech during the course was centered on these famous UCI points with a view to maintaining it?
For sure, yes. This year, we will be running a lot more in one-day races. The schedule will also be busier. This is a decisive year for us. We must try at all costs to maintain our position in the World Tour. I sincerely think it’s possible. In any case if the whole team believes in it and we have a good start to the season it is doable.
Strategically, the idea is to start strong to gain confidence and launch a dynamic?
That’s it! From the moment the team starts scoring points and winning races, everyone will be involved. Then it’s important in relation to the new bike. If those who are in Australia show that the bike works well it will motivate the whole team, all the staff and the mechanics.
A word about this X-LAB bike? Are you quite satisfied?
The whole team is really happy. I don’t say that to say it, but it’s really very rigid. There is a definite improvement over our bike from last year. Especially in the descending parts. This is where I see the difference, it goes very very quickly.
But hey, the first test will be in the race.
There were a lot of changes in the offseason with the arrival of XDS. How did the first courses go?
Very good, there is great cohesion. The new riders have integrated really well, I have the impression that they have already been there for several years. This is important to get the season off to a good start.
There is a strong Italian core with thirteen riders. This should make integration easier?
It’s certain that there was no problem between them. Then even with us they have no difficulty communicating and sharing their joy of living.
Among the new arrivals, which rider particularly impressed you?
Sergio Higuita really impressed me in December. Otherwise, Aaron Gate. He is very experienced, I feel he will have a great season for us. He has just competed and won track races, he is going to have a great level at the start of the year.
Personally, what objectives do you set for this 2025 season?
I would like to start being a decisive element for the team. That means being able to help the team in key moments. Then I would like to play Top 10s in 2.1 / 2.Pro races and why not even win because I think I have progressed well. I believe in it! Afterwards, I want to continue discovering the week-long WT races. For that, I don’t set too many personal goals. I will be there to help the team leaders. Finally, if I use the Vuelta at the end of the season and I have my chance in the breakaways I will really go with the objective of doing something on a stage.
Are you planning a peak in form over a particular period?
Not really, I’m going to try to have a neat and clean season where I manage to be in good shape almost everywhere. I don’t know my second part of the season yet, but if I manage to manage the Paris-Nice / Milan-San Remo sequence well I will be very happy.
Comments collected by Alexandre Paillou
