In 2022, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux can still rely on three solid elements of the last seasons, because Kévin Van Melsen (present since 2009), Andrea Pasqualon (2017) and Aimé De Gendt (2018) signed a new contract with the Belgian UCI World Team directed by Jean-François Bourlart.
Since his arrival in the structure in 2018, Aimé De Gendt presented himself as a solid element for the classics campaigns. The 27 year old from Erembodegem took his first professional victory at the Antwerp Port Epic (2019) and finished on the podium at Le Samyn (2019 & 2020) or more recently at the Brussels Cycling Classic (2nd) and the Druivenkoers Overijse (3rd). He also distinguished himself by his offensive spirit in the Tour de France 2019, the first Grand Tour in his career, and was part of the eight rider squad which made it to Paris. Aimé De Gendt extends the adventure with the team until the end of 2023.
In 2022 Italian rider Andrea Pasqualon will start his sixth season with the Belgian team, which he offered six victories. Pasqualon won the difficult Coppa Sabatini (2017), Grand Prix Plumelec (2018) and Tour du Luxembourg (2018), where he also won two stages. At the age of 33, he realized his dream by participating to his first Giro d’Italia in his career in 2021, after finishing three times the Tour de France with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux. Confronted with the best sprinters in the world, Pasqualon finished ten times in the top 10 of Grand Tour stages, among which three in this year’s Tour of Italy. Pasqualon, recently 4th in Eschborn-Frankfurt, continues his history with the Belgian team for another year.
Kévin Van Melsen, true symbol of the team, signs for next season and becomes involved with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux for a fourteenth year in a row. The helper from Lontzen is part of the structure since the start in 2009 and stepped up to the Pro Continental level in 2011, together with the team. He finished his first Tour de France in 2019 and will soon finish his first World Tour season at the age of 34. As an exemplary teammate he contributed to the collective victories of the Europe Tour classification in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and shone in service of his leaders in the latest Tour of Spain, red jersey wearers for nine days.
« After six years as a professional cyclist, I have now my place in the peloton and I'm considered as a fixed value within Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux. I attach a lot of importance to this familiar environment, which will be reinforced by strong riders such as Alexander Kristoff. This recruitment is another big step forward for the team and I wanted to be a part of this next stage. Since my arrival in the team, many investments have been made to progress in different areas. Equipment, nutrition or tools for our race preparation are a couple of examples. The race programme is also extended, but I appreciate that the team keeps showing interest in less famous races which all have their own charm. As a Belgian rider, I aim to show myself on home soil and we regularly received this opportunity this year. I want to end this season on a high and I can't wait to continue in the next two years! »
« This team became my family since I joined it. This is, I think, the key to my success: to prove myself each season again in an environment in which I feel good. I know my qualities and I know in which races I can aim high. I realized many dreams with the team, winning a World Tour race is still on my bucket list. But at the same time I love to work for my teammates and I can't wait to do this for Alexander Kristoff, for example in the spring classic which stay important to me. Participating to my first Giro this season was an extraordinary experience. I'm proud that we reached the highest level in cycling and want to continue writing this history together in 2022! »
« I stayed loyal to Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux because my work has always been valued. This recognition means a lot to me and I'm even more honored to receive the team's confidence after the step up to the World Tour in 2021. Together, we climbed the ladder of the sport to be part of the elite of international cycling. This rise to the top brought us exceptional memories, and collective performances like at the Vuelta motivate me to continue giving the best of myself. The progress of the team raises interest of riders of great stature in the peloton, which shows the attractiveness of our project. I'm very happy to be rewarded for my efforts and to pursue my rich career one more year. »
« By extending the contracts of Aimé De Gendt, Andrea Pasqualon and Kévin Van Melsen, we reinforce the framework of our team. These three riders showed this season, the first one in the World Tour for them and for the team, that they are of great value on the highest level in cycling. We are delighted that a young talent like Aimé has become a solid element of our team for the classics. At the age of 33, Andrea shows an exemplary professionalism, which enables him to compete with the best riders in the world in sprints, like he showed this year in the Giro or recently in Frankfurt. And Kévin, he accompanied the ascendance of the team in his role as devoted team player, so it is not a hazard that he contributed to the collective success at our first Tour of Spain. These three riders reflect the progress made by our structure and they symbolize the values which we would like to transmit to the new riders which will reinforce our team in 2022. »
« We attach a strong importance to experienced riders who are loyal to the team and strengthen the foundations of our project. These three riders progressed with our structure and they spread our team culture. Aimé De Gendt and Andrea Pasqualon showed fantastic performances this end of the season, reaching their usual high level. Aimé was inspired by Taco van der Hoorn and used his big engine to adopt a more offensive racing style. He was rewarded by strong podiums and we want to pursue this direction in the spring classics. The same counts for Andrea, a cyclist who races with his heart. We're convinced that our performance team can maximize the abilities of the 33 year old. During this first season in the World Tour, it was essential that also exemplary teammates such as Kévin Van Melsen reached a higher level and he brilliantly lived up to the expectations. In the shadow, he contributed to the success of his leaders, often even before the cameras were switched on. He is there from the start, adding stability and experience to our project. Year after year, our team leaders were guaranteed to receive a great support, so his contract extensions always became an evidence. »
