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 group after the Italian ProTeam ended.
Savio has a historical past of discovering skills in South America, having introduced Egan Bernal and Ivan Sosa to the eye of the WorldTour.
Umba scored some positive leads to 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 capable of proceed his development on account of accidents.
Nevertheless, Astana are in want of future skills, having misplaced stalwart Luis Léon Sánchez to retirement, Gianni Moscon to Soudal-Quickstep and Fabio Felline to Lidl-Trek.
Umba will be a part of burgeoning skills like Henok Mulubrhan, who signed from Inexperienced Undertaking-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, together with extra skilled acquisitions Max Kanter, Michael Mørkøv, Davide Ballerini and Ide Schelling.
“I’m extremely completely satisfied to signal my first contract with the WorldTour group and to change into part of such a giant challenge as Astana Qazaqstan Staff. I want to thank all of the group administration for this chance, the belief that was positioned in me. I’m certain that Astana is the perfect group for me, and I believe that I can make an excellent progress right here. I’m able to work exhausting, I’m prepared to achieve expertise on the highest degree as a way to change into a real skilled,” Umba mentioned in a group press launch.
Supervisor Alexandr Vinokourov appeared to Umba’s expertise racing in Europe as proof of his promise within the WorldTour.
“We see an excellent potential in Santiago, that may be revealed in our group. Regardless of such a younger age, Santiago has already ridden many vital skilled races, gained severe expertise, which might function a foundation for his additional growth. He has a variety of 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 can permit him to succeed in a superb degree within the WorldTour,” Vinokourov mentioned.