Mark Cavendish will make his racing debut with the Astana Kazakstan team at the Tour of Oman (February 10-14).

Cavendish trains with his Astana Kazakstan teammates in Altea, Spain.

Astana became interested in signing Cavendish in mid-December when team manager Alexandre Vinokurov admitted to Cycling News that he had called Cavendish after the B&B Hotels project fell through.

Now he wears the British national champion jersey and Astana Kazakstan shorts, showing off his Astana blue Willières bike.

"I'm already enjoying a long career, but the joy of riding a bike and the hunger to keep winning shines as bright as ever," Cavendish said.

However, with Vincenzo Nibali retiring and Miguel Angel Lopez being fired for his alleged relationship with a doctor under investigation for doping, the 2023 roster is missing an outstanding leader.

Astana Kazakstan has no track record of sprint victories, but Cavendish's arrival has changed their ambitions and he will play a key role in the team's success in 2023.

Stefano Zanini, Astana Kazakstan's sporting director, has been a successful sprinter in his career.

"We are honored that a great sprinter like Mark has decided to join Astana Kazakstan," Zanini told Cycling News at the Tour Down Under.

"He is probably the best sprinter in the history of the sport. I will do everything I can to help him this season and set him up in every sprint I can compete in."

Zanini was active from 1991 to 2007 with Gewiss, Mapei, Quick Step, and finally Predictor Lotto. His victories include the Amstel Gold Race, the 2000 Tour de France on the Champs Elysées, and the 1994 Giro d'Italia, where he defeated Jamolidin Abdujaparov on the final stage.

Zanini, now 53, is ready to work closely with Cavendish and build a team to lead him out. Astana Kazakstan has already announced the addition of Cece Boll, who is likely to be Cavendish's lead-out man.

"Astana Kazakstan has traditionally been a Grand Tour and stage race team. Now that Marc has joined the team, we will do whatever we can to support him," Zanini explained.

"We need time to perfect the lead-out train, but we also have Cees Bol who has joined us specifically to help Mark. Martin Lars, under-23 world champion Evgeny Fedorov, Dmitry Gruzdev, as well as Manuelle Boaro and Davide Martinelli will also run the last kilometer.

"People are questioning whether Mark can set up for the sprint.