Astana Kazakstan announced the signing of Colombian climber Sergio Iguita. With new investment from carbon manufacturer XDS Carbontech, the team continues to reshape its roster for 2025.

The team expects that the new contingent will earn enough UCI ranking points in 2025 to help the team maintain its WorldTour position from 2026 to 2028.

Higuain is the sixth newcomer announced by Astana. He joins Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates), Nicolas Consi (Alpecin Deceuninck), Aaron Gate (Burgos-BH), and neo-pro Florian Cajamini on the Kazakhstan team. Alberto Bettiol already joined last month in a rare mid-season transfer, and the points he earns over the remainder of the season will be part of Astana's point total for 2024.

Iguita, 27, spent three years with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, winning stages at the Tour de Romandie, Tour de Pollogne, and Iturria-Basque, as well as the overall title at the 2022 Volta a Catalunya.

Iguita is a two-time Colombian road champion and has also won mountain stages at the 2020 Tour Colombia and the 2019 Vuelta a España.

“I am very happy that we have found common ground and that this agreement has become a reality,” Higuita said.

“Astana is a team with a great legacy in cycling, with a rich history in the World Tour, winning virtually every major race in the world. Now, with a new contract and new sponsors, the team is transforming into a new and exciting project with an eye on the future.

“Overall, I think this is a place where I can continue to grow as a professional rider. Aleksandr Vinokurov has shown great interest and confidence in me. Together we set goals for the next two years and our visions are aligned. I am confident that together we will do everything in our power to achieve all our goals."

Higuita has also had podium finishes in Paris-Nice and the Tour de Suisse, and fifth places in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia.

Team boss Alexandre Vinokurov hopes that Higui will achieve similar results in 2025.

“Sergio is a very well-known player in the peloton. He is a very versatile athlete and can produce strong results in most races,” Vinokurov said.

“He can win hilly, mountain, classic and stage races. The team is ready to support Sergio wherever he has the best chance of success.”

.” For us, this is a very good reinforcement, especially in week-long stage races, and we are happy that we have found common ground and that Higuita will be part of our project for the next two seasons."