As we enter 2023, the biggest question of 2022 remains unanswered--which team will Mark Cavendish race for this season?

This photo was likely taken before team manager Aleksandr Vinokurov made an offer to Cavendish.

Vinokurov told Cycling News in mid-December that when he heard the team had collapsed, he immediately contacted Cavendish to discuss his plans. There are also rumors that sprinter Cece Boll will join the team from the broken down team.

However, the move is complicated by the fact that Astana has 29 contracted riders, as well as the rider in the press photo, so unless a rider is demoted, there is only one vacant seat.

The UCI omits Christian Scaroni, who joined the team in mid-2022 from the now-defunct Gazprom Rusvelo team, as the UCI only lists riders with a signed contract, but the 25-year-old is in the team photo.

Cavendish was spotted at Astana's hotel in Altea, where the team is holding a training camp in December, and was also seen riding a Willier, a bicycle brand sponsored by Astana.

Bol recorded his training rides on Strava, showing him riding the same climbs at the same pace as Astana's current riders.

Astana revealed the 12 riders on their development team on December 19, a few days after reports of the offer to Cavendish.

* = NeoPro (?) = Not listed on the UCI team page