Astana Proteam have announced that young Norwegian rider Truls Korsaeth will join the team for the next two seasons. The 23-year-old rider comes to Astana from Team Joker – Byggtorget, the Norwegian continental team, where he spent the last four years.
“To become a professional rider of the WorldTour level has been my biggest dream for a long time,” said Korsaeth. “In 2017, this dream will finally become a reality thanks to Astana Proteam, which has believed in me and asked me to join their team in its big project.”
“This is a huge step ahead, so I’m really excited and grateful for the opportunity. I would also like to thank Team Joker – Byggtorget, where I’ve spent the last seasons, for allowing me to develop as a rider and giving me a chance to reach a professional level with Astana Team. Now, all my thoughts are about my first season in the WorldTour.”
Despite his youth, Truls has already proved himself as a strong TT specialist. In 2013, Korsaeth won a team time trial stage of the Circuit des Ardennes, while in 2014 he won the Duo Normand.
In 2015, he finished third in the Ronde van Vlaanderen Beloften and in the individual time trial of the Norwegian National Championships as well as winning the Chrono des Nations U-23. Last season, Truls won a stage of the Tour de Gironde and took top tens in the Chrono des Nations, Duo Normand and the Chrono Champenois Masculin International.
“Despite the team was already presented a few weeks ago, we decided to complete Astana roster with one more rider,” explained general manager Alexandr Vinokurov. “We found a possibility to invite another rider and we chose Truls Korsaeth. He spent a very good season, while at the World Championships he impressed with the way he helped Alexander Kristoff on the hard route in Doha.”
“Korsaeth joined us in the final part of the training camp in Calpe, so we had a chance to saw his potential once again. In the continental level Truls showed some good results in time trials and one-day races, so I am sure, in Astana he will find all conditions for his further development. We hope, he could strengthen our team in classic races.”
