The Most Famous
CYCLISTS from Kazakhstan
This page contains a list of the greatest Kazakhstani Cyclists. The pantheon dataset contains 1,613 Cyclists, 9 of which were born in Kazakhstan. This makes Kazakhstan the birth place of the 28th most number of Cyclists behind Luxembourg, and Czechia.
Top 10
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Kazakhstani Cyclists of all time. This list of famous Kazakhstani Cyclists is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Kazakhstani Cyclists.
1. Alexander Vinokourov (b. 1973)
With an HPI of 49.76, Alexander Vinokourov is the most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 35 different languages on wikipedia.
Alexander Nikolayevich Vinokourov (Kazakh and Russian Александр Николаевич Винокуров; born 16 September 1973) is a Kazakhstani former professional road bicycle racer and the current general manager of UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team. He is of Russian origin. As a competitor, his achievements include two bronze medals at the World Championships, four stage wins in the Tour de France, four in the Vuelta a España plus the overall title in 2006, two Liège–Bastogne–Liège monuments, one Amstel Gold Race, and the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics Men's Road Race. Vinokourov is a past national champion of Kazakhstan, and a dual-medalist at the Summer Olympics. In 2007, he received a two-year ban from cycling for blood doping. In 2019, he was accused of race fixing by prosecutors in Liège but was later cleared of the charges. Vinokourov began cycling in 1984 as an 11-year-old, competing within the former Soviet Union. He moved to France in 1997 to finish his amateur career, and then turned professional there in 1998. After almost a decade as a professional, Vinokourov was caught blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France, which triggered the withdrawal of the entire Astana team from that year's race. After a 2-year suspension from competition, he returned to cycling in August 2009, riding first for the national team of Kazakhstan and then rejoining Astana. A serious crash during the 2011 Tour de France threatened to prematurely end Vinokourov's career for a second time, but he announced he would continue for one more season in 2012 – with an eye towards competing in the Olympic Games in London. There, Vinokourov played the role of ultimate spoiler when he dramatically won the gold medal in the men's road race after breaking away in the closing miles with Colombian Rigoberto Urán. Vinokourov retired after the Olympics and assumed management duties with Astana for 2013. He was sacked as the team principal of Astana-Premier Tech in June 2021. However, in August 2021 Vinokourov returned as Team manager. He is an honorary colonel in the Kazakh army but lives in France with his wife and children.
2. Andrey Kivilev (1973 - 2003)
With an HPI of 40.37, Andrey Kivilev is the 2nd most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Andrei Mikhailovich Kivilev (Андрей Михайлович Кивилёв, 20 September 1973 – 12 March 2003) was a professional road bicycle racer from Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan. In March 2003, he crashed during the Paris–Nice race and subsequently died of his injuries. His death was the trigger for the UCI to implement the compulsory wearing of helmets in all endorsed races.
3. Maxim Iglinsky (b. 1981)
With an HPI of 38.74, Maxim Iglinsky is the 3rd most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.
Maxim Gennadyevich Iglinsky (Kazakh: Максим Геннадьевич Иглинский; born 18 April 1981, in Astana) is a Kazakh former road racing cyclist who rode professionally from 2004 to 2014 with the Capec, Domina Vacanze, Team Milram and Astana teams.
4. Alexey Lutsenko (b. 1992)
With an HPI of 36.50, Alexey Lutsenko is the 4th most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.
Alexey Alexandrovich Lutsenko (Kazakh: Алексей Александрович Луценко; born 7 September 1992) is a Kazakh professional cyclist, who rides for UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team.
5. Andrey Kashechkin (b. 1980)
With an HPI of 34.88, Andrey Kashechkin is the 5th most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Andrey Grigorievich Kashechkin (Russian: Андрей Григорьевич Кашечкин, born 21 March 1980) is a former Kazakhstani road racing cyclist, who last rode for the UCI ProTour team Astana.
6. Andrey Zeits (b. 1986)
With an HPI of 34.52, Andrey Zeits is the 6th most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Andrey Sergeyevich Zeits (Russian: Андрей Сергеевич Зейц; born 14 December 1986) is a Kazakh former professional road bicycle racer. In 2009, Zeits rode the Giro d'Italia, the first grand tour of his career, which he finished in 31st place. After twelve years with the Astana team, Zeits joined Mitchelton–Scott on a two-year contract from the 2020 season. He rejoined the renamed Astana Qazaqstan Team for the 2022 season.
7. Dmitry Fofonov (b. 1976)
With an HPI of 32.80, Dmitry Fofonov is the 7th most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Dmitry Fofonov (Kazakh: Дмитрий Фофонов, romanized: Dmitriy Fofonov; born 15 August 1976 in Almaty) is a former Kazakh professional road bicycle racer who was fired from UCI ProTeam Crédit Agricole for doping. Fofonov tested positive for heptaminol after the 18th stage of the 2008 Tour de France. Fofonov had completed the race in 19th place, and was fired by Crédit Agricole after the test. After his doping ban ended, Fofonov joined the Astana team for the 2010 season. He retired after the 2012 season and became an assistant sporting director for Astana.
8. Assan Bazayev (b. 1981)
With an HPI of 32.35, Assan Bazayev is the 8th most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Assan Tolegenovich Bazayev (Kazakh: Асан Төлегенұлы Базаев, Russian: Асан Толегенович Базаев , born 22 February 1981) is a former professional road bicycle racer from Kazakhstan, who competed as a professional between 2004 and 2013. He competed for the Capec, Liberty Seguros–Würth and Astana squads. In 2004 he won the Hellas Tour, but he did not win any stage. He also won stage 1 of the 2006 Tour of Germany in August 2006. Bazayev retired at the end of the 2013 season, after ten years as a professional.
9. Dmitriy Gruzdev (b. 1986)
With an HPI of 24.40, Dmitriy Gruzdev is the 9th most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Dmitriy Nikolayevich Gruzdev (Russian: Дми́трий Никола́евич Гру́здев, born 13 March 1986) is a Kazakhstani professional road bicycle racer, who rides for UCI WorldTeam Astana Qazaqstan Team. With ten professional wins, Gruzdev is a four-time winner of the Kazakhstan National Time Trial Championships, and he also won the Kazakhstan National Road Race Championships in 2024. He has also won six gold medals, across three different road events, at the Asian Cycling Championships.
10. Artyom Zakharov (b. 1991)
With an HPI of 24.05, Artyom Zakharov is the 10th most famous Kazakhstani Cyclist. His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Artyom Alekseyevich Zakharov (Russian: Артём Алексеевич Захаров, born 27 October 1991) is a Kazakhstani cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Astana Qazaqstan Development Team. He competed at the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and 2013 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. He has also won numerous medals at the Asian Track Championships.
People
Pantheon has 11 people classified as Kazakhstani cyclists born between 1973 and 1998. Of these 11, 10 (90.91%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Kazakhstani cyclists include Alexander Vinokourov, Maxim Iglinsky, and Alexey Lutsenko. The most famous deceased Kazakhstani cyclists include Andrey Kivilev. As of April 2024, 2 new Kazakhstani cyclists have been added to Pantheon including Artyom Zakharov, and Vadim Pronskiy.
Living Kazakhstani Cyclists
Go to all Rankings
Alexander Vinokourov
1973 - Present
HPI: 49.76
Maxim Iglinsky
1981 - Present
HPI: 38.74
Alexey Lutsenko
1992 - Present
HPI: 36.50
Andrey Kashechkin
1980 - Present
HPI: 34.88
Andrey Zeits
1986 - Present
HPI: 34.52
Dmitry Fofonov
1976 - Present
HPI: 32.80
Assan Bazayev
1981 - Present
HPI: 32.35
Dmitriy Gruzdev
1986 - Present
HPI: 24.40
Artyom Zakharov
1991 - Present
HPI: 24.05
Vadim Pronskiy
1998 - Present
HPI: 0.00
