After fellow Kazakhstani Alexander Vinokourov left T-Mobile at the end of 2005, Yakovlev went with him to Liberty Seguros-Würth team and then the Astana cycling team. Yakovlev's victories include being the national champion of Kazakhstan in 2000, the 2000 edition of the Tour de l'Ain and a stage in the Tour de Suisse.
After fellow Kazakhstani Alexander Vinokourov left T-Mobile at the end of 2005, Yakovlev joined him on the Liberty Seguros-Würth team and then the Astana cycling team.  Yakovlev has won national championships in Kazakhstan (2000), the Tour de l'Ain (2000), and a stage in the Tour de Suisse.