Cristián Rodríguez, from the soon-to-be dissolved Arkéa-B&B Lodges staff, has landed with XDS Astana for the 2026 season on a one-year contract.
The 30-year-old Spaniard competed with the French staff for the previous three years, and was beforehand with TotalEnergies and Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.
Rodríguez had a robust exhibiting in 2025 with a victory within the UCI 1.1 Mercan’Tour Traditional, a second place within the 1.1 Andorra Morabanc Traditional, and twentieth general within the Tour de France.
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“I am actually comfortable to hitch such a giant staff as XDS Astana Workforce,” Rodríguez stated within the staff’s press launch. “It is a legendary squad with an extended historical past, performing on the highest stage for a few years. I am grateful to the staff for believing in me as a rider, and I am going to do all the pieces I can to repay that belief.”
Rodríguez’s different notable outcomes embody second general within the 2022 Ruta del Sol, and a stage win and the general victory within the 2021 Tour du Rwanda. He’s now on the lookout for extra success with XDS Astana.
“Subsequent season, I am totally prepared to offer 100% for the staff’s targets and to assist my new teammates,” he stated. “On the similar time, I wish to proceed rising as knowledgeable bike owner and can search for alternatives to point out my finest within the races the place the staff depends on me. I am actually excited for the brand new season.”
The staff additionally prolonged their contracts with Aaron Gate and Matteo Malucelli via the tip of the 2027 season.
Gate spent most of his early profession racing on the observe, successful 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 street racing in 2024, signing with Burgos-BH and located fast success, sweeping 4 of 5 phases and the general within the NZ Cycle Traditional earlier than successful the New Zealand street race title. He went on to say the Oceania time trial title and, close to the tip 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 general 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 improbable season with XDS Astana Workforce,” Gate stated. “I managed to attain some robust private ends in 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 large and pleasant staff the place I instantly felt at residence. 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 staff was on observe for relegation from the WorldTour, however surged from twenty first to fifteenth within the three-year standings via their ends in 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 unimaginable staff! This 12 months we had an formidable aim to gather as many factors as attainable and keep within the WorldTour, and collectively we achieved it,” Malucelli stated.
“It was a vivid and profitable season with many victories and podiums, and I am proud to have contributed to the staff’s outcomes. Within the new season, I wish to hold progressing and combating for extra high outcomes.”
