Astana’s Ivan Smirnov Clinches Victory at Tour de Kyushu

Astana, The Gulf Observer: Ivan Smirnov, a trainee with the Astana Qazaqstan Team, delivered an outstanding performance at the Tour de Kyushu in Japan, culminating in a remarkable victory in the third and final stage of the race. Smirnov won the sprint from the peloton, demonstrating his exceptional speed and tactical prowess. His victory also elevated him to the third position in the General Classification of the prestigious Japanese stage race, according to the Team’s press service.

Another notable performance came from fellow Astana Qazaqstan Team rider Anthon Charmig, who finished fourth in the overall standings.

Reflecting on the demanding final stage, Smirnov stated, “We expected the entire stage to be very challenging and essentially decisive, so we were preparing for a tough battle. The last two laps were incredibly hard, with attacks coming one after another on every climb. Today, we were helping Anthon Charmig, who was fighting for the General Classification, bringing him into position to attack.

“Unfortunately, I dropped from the group with about 250 meters to the top during the final climb, and Anthon’s attack didn’t succeed as their group was caught just a few kilometers before the finish. However, I managed to rejoin the group right before the finish. The peloton was already much smaller by then, so with the support of Alexandr Vinokurov and Anton Kuzmin, I quickly moved to the front and got a good position for the sprint. I gave it my all in the sprint and managed to win, which I’m very happy about. It’s nice to finish the race with a victory. Thanks to the bonus seconds, I also took third place in the General Classification – a good bonus.”

Smirnov’s victory marks a significant achievement for the Astana Qazaqstan Team and showcases the team’s dedication and competitive spirit on the international cycling stage.