Astana Qazaqstan introduced the signing of 20-year-old Santiago Umba on Thursday. The Colombian had a four-year contract with Gianni Savio, first with Androni Giocattoli and Drone Hopper, then to the GW Shimano staff after the Italian ProTeam ended.
Savio has a historical past of discovering abilities in South America, having introduced Egan Bernal and Ivan Sosa to the eye of the WorldTour.
Umba scored some wonderful ends in 2021, together with a podium within the Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc and a stage win on La Planche des Belles Filles within the Tour Alsace, however since has not been in a position to proceed his development resulting from accidents.
Nevertheless, Astana are in want of future abilities, having misplaced stalwart Luis Léon Sánchez to retirement, Gianni Moscon to Soudal-Quickstep and Fabio Felline to Lidl-Trek.
Umba will be part of burgeoning abilities like Henok Mulubrhan, who signed from Inexperienced Challenge-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, together with extra skilled acquisitions Max Kanter, Michael Mørkøv, Davide Ballerini and Ide Schelling.
“I’m extremely joyful to signal my first contract with the WorldTour staff and to develop into part of such a giant undertaking as Astana Qazaqstan Group. I wish to thank all of the staff administration for this chance, the belief that was positioned in me. I’m positive that Astana is the perfect staff for me, and I believe that I can make an awesome progress right here. I’m able to work arduous, I’m prepared to achieve expertise on the highest degree to be able to develop into a real skilled,” Umba mentioned in a staff press launch.
Supervisor Alexandr Vinokourov regarded to Umba’s expertise racing in Europe as proof of his promise within the WorldTour.
“We see an awesome potential in Santiago, that may be revealed in our staff. Regardless of such a younger age, Santiago has already ridden many vital skilled races, gained critical expertise, which might function a foundation for his additional growth. He has numerous excessive outcomes on the youth degree, he already is aware of what skilled racing is, so all he wants is cautious and systematic work that may permit him to succeed in degree within the WorldTour,” Vinokourov mentioned.
