Alexandr Vinokurov and Jani Brajkovic to lead Kazakh team at Tour de France

Alexandr Vinokurov (KAZ)
Jani Brajkovic (SLO)
Borut Bozic (SLO)
Dmitry Fofonov (KAZ)
Andriy Grivko (UKR)
Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ)
Andrey Kashechkin (KAZ)
Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE)
Robert Kiserlovski (HRV)

Reserve: Francesco Gavazzi (ITA)

The Kazakh team will be managed during the Tour by Giuseppe Martinelli and Guido Bontempi, according to the team's press service.

Alexandr Vinokurov said: "We have definitely got a strong and highly motivated team. Martinelli has done - and is doing - a great job with our riders. Personally, my form has been improving every day since the Dauphiné. I recently did a series of training sessions in mountains and saw some good signs. After last year's unfortunate experience, I am going to the Tour with the aim of winning a stage - hopefully in the Pyrenees - and to help Jani for the general classification, while also preparing as well as possible for the Olympics."

Commenting on the squad selected for the Tour, Team Manager Giuseppe Martinelli said: "I think I have got a very competitive team here. Our goal is to play a major role every single day, both in the transition stages and in the most prestigious finales. We will also have our eyes on the general classification, but we know that we are not the favourites.

"Vinokurov is our team captain, our charismatic leader," Martinelli continued, "and his experience will doubtless be a huge help to everyone. After the accident last year, he has given 100% to get himself ready for this Tour and there is every reason to believe that he might do well.

"Brajkovič will be our man for the GC but I do not want to set any specific goals for him. I know that he will give everything to get a good result, both for himself and for the team. Kiserlovski, meanwhile, has had a good season so far and been competitive in every race that he has been in; he cannot fail to carry on this form at the Tour and maybe get the win that has so far eluded him this year. Grivko and Fofonov will be our team players, doing the work that you do not see on television but that is indispensable for the team - although that does not mean that they cannot get into a couple of major breaks and shake up the race.

"Bozič is our unconventional sprinter, not only for the sprint finishes but also when sprinting out of a small group after long-distance breakaways. Kashechkin will help Jani in the high mountain stages and could aim for a good personal result in the others. Lastly, Maxim Iglinskiy won the Liège and is here to go after stage victories, which he is very well equipped to do."

Daily diaries of Tour de France 2012 with comments in Russian and Kazakh will be broadcast on national TV channel "Kazakhstan" from June 30 to July 22 minutes at 12:30 am Astana time.