Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert strengthen its team for the classics for the coming season with two assets of experience, with several top 10 finishes in Monuments. Belgian Dimitri Claeys and French Adrien Petit respectively signed for one and two seasons with the Belgian team directed by Jean-François Bourlart.
Dimitri Claeys is a familiar face within Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert as he was part of the structure in 2016. That year, the 34 year-old from Ghent impressed on the cobbles of the Tour of Flanders by taking 9th place. Later during the season he won an Ardennes stage in the Tour de Wallonie and the GP Jef Scherens. The powerful flandrien added the GC of the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque (2018) and the Famenne Ardenne Classic (2019) to his name, before improving his personal best in the Tour of Flanders (6th in 2020). The double Belgian U23 champion also distinguished himself in the Tour de France and La Vuelta and aspires to continue animating the finals of the main spring classics with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert.
At the age of 31, Adrien Petit is joining a foreign team for the first time in his career. The powerful rider showcases an impressive list of performances in demanding classics, for example his victory in the Tro-Bro Leon (2014), his 6th place in Ghent-Wevelgem (2019) and two top 10 finishes in Paris-Roubaix (10th in 2016 and 9th in 2017). The rider from the north of France also carries fast legs, that earned him victories on the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque, the Tropicale Amissa Bongo, the GP de la Somme and Paris-Troyes, as well as the prologue of the Tour of Luxembourg. The rider born in Arras is also known as a loyal team player, contributing to the victories of Nacer Bouhanni or Bryan Coquard. It is in this way that he brilliantly entered in the pro peloton, becoming vice World Champion U23 behind Arnaud Démare, which he lead-out (2011).
« I didn’t have to think much before making the decision to return to the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert family. Even though the structure changed a lot since 2016, I know that I’ll feel at home and that I will receive the opportunity to show myself in my favorite classics and other Belgian races. I remember that in 2016, thanks to Jean-François Bourlart and Hilaire Van der Schueren, I got the opportunity to show my abilities in the most prestigious classics. Looking back, I consider it as my breakthrough season on the highest level. Since then, I followed the progress of the team year after year. A first participation in the Tour de France, the development of Guillaume Martin as a true leader, the growing investment in the performance and the equipment, etc. More recently, I was really impressed by the collective performance at the Vuelta. I can’t wait to be a part of this growing project again. It is true that I already achieved nice results throughout my career, but I’m really motivated to accompany a leader who can finish on the podium in the most prestigious classics of the calendar. »
« After years of observing its progression, I couldn’t resist the temptation to join Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert. I finally feel ready to step up to a foreign World Team after eleven years in the pro peloton. The good contacts with the team and strong interest from Alexander Kristoff in my qualities persuaded me even more. I will follow the Norwegian rider in most of his races and I can’t wait to help him on the way to success. I feel good in this role of loyal teamplayer, having built my own palmares in the beginning of my career in races such as Binche-Chimay-Binche or Le Samyn, which are close to the heart of myself and the team. I can’t wait to start this new chapter and pin a number on a Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert shirt! »
« We had the intention to reinforce our squad for the classics in 2022, and with the signings of Dimitri Claeys and Adrien Petit, we add two solid assets who will bring invaluable experience. Both battled with the best riders in the world on the cobbles of Flanders and Roubaix, and they will play an important role for our leader Alexander Kristoff, and also share their experience with our young riders who want to progress in the classics. We know the abilities of Dimitri quite well, he already honored our jersey in 2016 and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back in the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert family. Thanks to Adrien we’ll have an important element for the classics and the sprint train, to which he can add his rich knowledge. »
« I’m pleased that we can add a lot of experience to our classics squad next season thanks to the recruitment of these two riders. Both showed their leadership qualities on World Tour level and will play a role in the final of the most important classics in our colors. The addition of Claeys and Petit reinforces my conviction that we can surround Alexander Kristoff with a strong team. Both Dimitri Claeys and Adrien Petit are ambitious to scale up their level, and it is the progression of riders like Quinten Hermans, Louis Meintjes and Lorenzo Rota that stirred up their interest in the team. For the French rider it was a conscious decision to make a new step in his career with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert. Adrien Petit will be an important element in the lead out for Alexander Kristoff, who can also rely on Dimitri Claeys in the classics. The Belgian rider followed the team’s progression in terms of performance since he left the structure at the end of 2016 and is looking forward to return to the family which he knows so well. »
