Cristián Rodríguez, from the soon-to-be dissolved Arkéa-B&B Accommodations crew, has landed with XDS Astana for the 2026 season on a one-year contract.
The 30-year-old Spaniard competed with the French crew for the previous three years, and was beforehand with TotalEnergies and Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.
Rodríguez had a powerful exhibiting in 2025 with a victory within the UCI 1.1 Mercan’Tour Basic, a second place within the 1.1 Andorra Morabanc Basic, and twentieth total within the Tour de France.
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“I am actually comfortable to hitch such a giant crew as XDS Astana Workforce,” Rodríguez mentioned within the crew’s press launch. “It is a legendary squad with a protracted historical past, performing on the highest stage for a few years. I am grateful to the crew for believing in me as a rider, and I am going to do every little thing I can to repay that belief.”
Rodríguez’s different notable outcomes embody second total within the 2022 Ruta del Sol, and a stage win and the general victory within the 2021 Tour du Rwanda. He’s now in search of extra success with XDS Astana.
“Subsequent season, I am absolutely prepared to present 100% for the crew’s objectives and to help my new teammates,” he mentioned. “On the identical time, I wish to proceed rising as an expert bike owner and can search for alternatives to point out my greatest within the races the place the crew depends on me. I am actually excited for the brand new season.”
The crew additionally prolonged their contracts with Aaron Gate and Matteo Malucelli by the top of the 2027 season.
Gate spent most of his early profession racing on the observe, profitable two world titles – the Omnium in 2013 and the Factors Race in 2023 – in addition to three Commonwealth Video games titles (Particular person Pursuit, Workforce Pursuit, and Factors Race) in 2022. He additionally secured a number of titles within the New Zealand and Oceania Championships.
He shifted his focus to highway racing in 2024, signing with Burgos-BH and located fast success, sweeping 4 of 5 phases and the general within the NZ Cycle Basic earlier than profitable the New Zealand highway race title. He went on to assert the Oceania time trial title and, close to the top of final 12 months, two phases and the general within the Tour of Hainan.
In his first WorldTour season this 12 months with XDS Astana on the age of 34, Gate gained a stage within the Tour of Hainan and was third within the total standings. He gained a stage and the GC within the Boucles de la Mayenne and a stage within the Tour de Langkawi earlier this month.
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“It has been a implausible season with XDS Astana Workforce,” Gate mentioned. “I managed to attain some sturdy private leads to China, Malaysia, and France, whereas additionally serving to my teammates of their quests for victory.
“I am actually comfortable to be a part of this massive and pleasant crew the place I instantly felt at house. That is why I am really glad to increase my contract with XDS Astana Workforce, and I hope to attain much more within the coming seasons.”
Malucelli was one of many key riders in turning round XDS Astana’s fortunes. The crew was on observe for relegation from the WorldTour, however surged from twenty first to fifteenth within the three-year standings by their leads to 2025.
The Italian ended his season with eight victories, with stage wins on the Tour of Hainan, Tour of Turkey, Tour of Langkawi, and Tour of Taihu Lake, the place he additionally gained the general classification.
“I am actually comfortable to proceed racing with XDS Astana Workforce – it is an unbelievable crew! This 12 months we had an formidable aim to gather as many factors as potential and keep within the WorldTour, and collectively we achieved it,” Malucelli mentioned.
“It was a shiny and profitable season with many victories and podiums, and I am proud to have contributed to the crew’s outcomes. Within the new season, I wish to maintain progressing and combating for extra high outcomes.”
