Pello Bilbao will discover a new world in 2017. The young Spaniard has opted to join the Astana team, leaving behind him an experience of three seasons with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. 

During his time with the Spanish team, Bilbao won races every year, including twice at the Tour of Turkey and once at the Klasika Primavera. However, he will now leave his free role to be a domestique.

"My program has not been decided,” he told the Italian version of Cyclingpro.net, “but I think my role will be to help Aru, Miguel Angel Lopez or Fuglsang who are our top three leaders. If an opportunity presents itself in a smaller race, I hope to exploit it. I also have a score to settle with the Tour of Turkey (he was forced to abandon in 2016 as he fell ill while leading the race, ed.) and next year it will be in the WorldTour. I would like to be there if my schedule permits.”

Bilbao will also have to find his role in a new environment outside of Spain after stints at Caja Rural and Euskaltel-Euskadi. He can rely on his compatriot and former teammate Luis Leon Sanchez in the Kazakh team. 

"It's a very different experience,” he added. “I have raced for six years in the pro ranks and always in Spanish teams. To be in a big team with so many different nationalities is something special. I have always wanted to have this kind of experience. But it is most important to grow season after season, and I think this is a key year for me."