Starting in 2024, Lorenzo Fortunato will become a part of the Astana Qazaqstan Team. The talented 27-year-old Italian cyclist has sealed a two-year contract with the team. Fortunato, who was a member of the squad led by Alberto Contador, EOLO-Kometa, was being pursued by several WorldTour teams.
Fortunato turned pro in 2019. His biggest triumph came in 2021 when he clinched a stage victory with a remarkable finish on Monte Zoncolan in the Giro d’Italia. This year, the climber secured a stage win and overall victory in the Vuelta Asturias. He also secured a fifth-place finish in the Tour of the Alps and sixth place in the Tour of Slovenia.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Astana, a team with a rich history,” Fortunato stated. “I’m truly looking forward to getting to know my new team and continuing to grow there, as I have over the past three years.” He added, “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to step up to the WorldTour and hope to repay the trust in the years to come.”
Alexandre Vinokourov, the team principal, is confident in this new acquisition: “We see Lorenzo as a rider who can contend for strong results in week-long stage races, as well as one-day classics. Simultaneously, he brings ample experience from the Giro d’Italia, where he has already secured a significant victory on Monte Zoncolan.”