Astana Pro Team have signed contracts for 2016-2017 with Kazakhstan riders Dias Omirzakov and Artyom Zakharov. Both riders are some of the best representatives of Kazakhstan track cycling and will now start a road career as "neo-pros" and as part of Astana, the main cycling team of the country.

Omirzyakov and Zakharov are multiple medalists of championships and Asian cups in various disciplines of track cycling.

“I am very glad and I had hoped for this. This is a surprise for me. It is very important step in my career! Being a track rider, I will endeavor to gain experience in road cycling and show good results. This is also a good step for preparation to the track competitions important for the country such as the World Championship and Olympiс Games,” Dias Omirzakov said

Twenty-three-years-old Dias Omirzakov, trainee of the South-Kazakhstan cycling school, is a record-holder of Asia among juniors in the individual pursuit as well as champion of Asia in the team pursuit among juniors in 2009.

“The wmotions are very positive. I am very glad that I have big opportunities. First of all, this is broad experience for me in everything, including in road cycling, because my specialization is on the track. However, the main training to the Olympiс Games is road cycling, for sure. Therefore, I will try to show myself as best as possible in the road cycling which I also like very much," Artyom Zakharov said.

2013 champion of Asia in omnium, twenty-four-years-old Artyom Zakharov, trainee of North-Kazakhstan cycling school, is one of the contenders to win an Olympiс spot for Kazakhstan on the track.

"First of all, this is very important step for us as well as for the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation to prepare these young athletes as we approach the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. I am sure that they can receive additional experience and improve their skills in our team of best riders,” Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of the team, comments.

Within the frames of special program the Kazakhstan neo-pros will come out as part of the Astana Team on February 8 beginning the new season from the Tour of Qatar and the Tour of Oman on the Arabian  Peninsula.