Astana keen to impress after Giro snub

The Astana team were also dogged by a number of doping scandals last year before changing management.

The Astana cycling team are resigned to being omitted from this year's Giro d'Italia but aim to prove the race organisers wrong with impressive performances in other events.

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Astana were not among the 21 teams invited to compete in May's, with race organisers saying their top riders, including 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, had not shown enough interest in competing.

The Astana team were also dogged by a number of doping scandals last year before changing management.

"The Giro directors have the freedom to choose. We regret that. Lodging a complaint will not help us. In the coming weeks, we will prove that we still have our place in all big cycling events," Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel said in a statement.

"Fortunately, my sponsors have confirmed their unconditional support. With their support, we started building a new team in a clean environment.

"We will continue in this way. I hope, for cycling in general, that the sponsors of the other non-selected teams react in the same way."