Tanel Kangert signs three-year contract to stay with Astana
Tanel Kangert has signed a new deal with Astana that ties him to the team until the end of the 2016 season.
Last Updated: 19/09/13 11:57am
The Estonian time-trial champion enjoyed something of a breakthrough campaign in 2013, finishing 14th in the Giro d'Italia where he was one of winner Vincenzo Nibali's main lieutenants in the mountains.
Kangert proved his strength against the clock by finishing third in the tough time-trial, beaten only by British riders Alex Dowsett and Sir Bradley Wiggins and finishing seven seconds ahead of Nibali over 54.8 kilometres.
Team manager Alexandre Vinokourov said: "Tanel has really developed this year into a Grand Tour rider, with his close support of Vincenzo Nibali's victory at the Giro, and a great three weeks at the Vuelta a Espana.
"He is an exceptionally strong time trialist as well as a climber of the highest standing, and we are very pleased that his talents will stay at Astana Pro Team and that we can set future goals with a reasonable expectation of continuing success."
Kangert is looking forward to more success with the team, both individually and as a key part of their Grand Tour rosters.
"It has been a very good season for me as a professional, and there are good prospects for me at Astana," he said.
"I think the Tour de France with Nibali will be a goal worth setting, and I think I can have some individual success at the bigger one-week stage races like the Tour de Suisse or the Dauphine.
"Astana puts a lot of confidence in me with a three-year contract, and I get a lot of confidence back as well, and this makes it easier to do the training and racing in the long run."
