25/10/2017 /
Astana ProTeam is happy to announce the contract extension with Spanish rider Pello Bilbao, who is spending his debut season with the Kazakh project. The new agreement is set for two more years (2018 and 2019).
“To continue with Astana is the best news, I could have. In every moment of the season I knew clear, that my goal is to continue in this team. I found here a really great group to work, all the staff are very professional people and I feel here like at home. Also, the group of riders we have is absolutely fantastic. Despite some difficult moments during the season we always were trying to pass it together, keeping high our motivation. In the second part of the season we could demonstrate that we are a really strong team. I wished so much to extend with this amazing team and now I am happy. In the new season I want to keep on working, to keep on improving. I feel a confidence from the side of the team and this is very important for me,” said Pello Bilbao.
Pello Bilbao (27) joined Astana Team in 2017. Among his best results of the season could be noted a 4th place at a stage of the Giro d’Italia and a 10th place in the general classification of the Tour de Suisse. Bilbao did the Vuelta a Espana on the highest level, supporting two team leaders, Fabio Aru and Miguel Angel Lopez. Pello was a rider, who helped a lot Astana on its way to the final team classification win in La Vuelta.
“This year, Pello showed himself quite good. Indeed, the first half of the season was a bit difficult, it was a period of adaptation in the new team for the rider. But, in the second part, especially, at the Vuelta a Espana Bilbao proved that he is a strong athlete. We are happy to extend his contract and hope that in the upcoming season Pello will improve even more,” said general manager Alexandr Vinokurov.
