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IWG Devo – Ten names are known

Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux welcomes Italian rider Francesco Busatto and the Belgian riders Sacha Prestianni, Dylan Vandenstorme and Obie Vidts in its new Continental Development team under the direction of Kévin Van Melsen in January. These newcomers are added to the previously announced names of Arne Baers, Alessio Delle Vedove, Victor Hannes, Tim Rex, Nathan Smith et Jelle Vermoote.

Francesco Busatto (19 year old) achieved several prestigious podiums in Italian races this season. The second of the Gran Premio Industrie del Marmo recently finished second on top of the Monte Zoncolan in the Giro della Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia and also took two podium spots in stages of the Giro d’Italia U23. Busatto is currently in Australia with the national team for the World Championships, two months after his seventeenth place at the European Championships in Anadia.

« Joining the structure of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert is a fantastic opportunity for me to be a part of a Belgian team in continuous progression. I want to thank the team for the chance to acquire experience abroad, because in my opinion it is the best way to grow as a rider and as a person. In this way, I can regularly race in an international peloton and discover new races. In 2023 I hope to return to the Giro d'Italia U23 with ambition and to make my debut in pro races. I  have a lot of confidence in this project, I felt it from our first discussions. I can't wait to start this challenge! »

Sacha Prestianni (18 year old) is the recent winner of the climbing race Herbeumont in the junior category, a couple of days after top five finishes in the GP Général Patton and the GP Luxembourg. The rider from Huy appreciates hilly races, which he has shown in the junior versions of Liège-Bastogne-Liège Juniors (6th) and the Triptyque Ardennais (8th in GC).

« Joining Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert is a unique opportunity for me to step up to the U23 category in a Walloon team. The team never stopped growing since I'm addicted by cycling and today I'm a junior who can start dreaming about a career of a professional cyclist. Within the new Continental Development team, all elements are united to enable me to make progression. Our support and equipment will be similar to that of the riders of the World Team. I will continue working hard this winter to become stronger physically. These factors can only lead to an upward trend. »

Dylan Vandenstorme (20 year old) also won the climbing race in Herbeumont in July, but in the U23 category. He just finished second in the final classification of the Road Series, only two points behind the overall winner, thanks to a second place in the GP Color Code Bassenge, a fourth place at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23 and a sixth place at the GP de Honnelles, among others.

« I was immediately convinced by the interest of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert. From the first discussions with Kévin Van Melsen I had the impression to be a part of the team and that's why I didn't hesitate to choose for this project. I will be part of a strong team, supported by Kévin Van Melsen and Dimitri Claeys, among others, with whom I already have a regular contact. It is my ambition to add more races of the Road Series to my calendar next year, hoping to win the overall classification. I would also like to race more often on a higher level to make progression. My transfer to the Continental Development team is a first step that will hopefully lead to a spot in the World Tour peloton one day. »

Obie Vidts (20 year old) showed himself in the professional peloton this year with a fifteenth place in the difficult Circuit de Wallonie, which was won by Andrea Pasqualon. He achieved several good results in well know U23 races such as the Flèche Ardennaise (9th) and the Strade Bianche (11th).

« My ambition is to follow in the footsteps of my father by becoming a professional cyclist. Realizing this dream with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert would be fantastic. I follow the team for several years already. What the riders of the World Team accomplish this season is just incredible. Everyone talks about it, which makes me very enthusiastic to be a part of the project. The vision of the Continental Development team really pleases me. The focus is on the development and the support of the riders. The approach of Kévin Van Melsen motivates me a lot, he rapidly convinced me to choose for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert. »

« By joining the new Continental Development team, our riders choose to invest in their development. It is our intention to offer the young talents all chances to fully exploit their potential. More concretely, this means that they will benefit from the same equipment and staff as the riders of the World Team and that they could receive the opportunity to race with the pros. They can rely on the expertise of our trainers, our sports dietitians and the medical team. We work with an annual and individualized planning. In addition to two training camps this winter, we will organize training camps during the season to prepare the most important races. » « I'm pleased that we managed to convince Francesco Busatto to join our team, because he has an interesting profile and a strong regularity in his result. Our program will suit this puncher. We can often play his card in both hilly races as in stage races. I'm convinced that he has the capabilities to step up to a higher level soon. That's why we have the intention to test him in professional races such as the Volta Limburg Classic. » « With Prestianni and Vandenstorme, we have two good climbers, who confirmed their capabilities in hilly races in their respective categories and who both won the prestigious climbing race in Herbeumont. I'm convinced that with our professional approach, they can improve several aspects and increase their capabilities. In case of Vandenstorme, taking into account his age, this means that we will line him up in a couple of pro races to enable him to make a next step. » « Just like Busatto and Vandenstorme, Vidts has already two seasons in the U23 category behind the back, an important experience he can share with his younger teammates. He even obtained good results in pro races, for example in a difficult race such as the Circuit de Wallonie. My teammates of the World Team saw him in action, he's a rider with a big engine. His goal will be to confirm in the next seasons in our colors. »

RESULTS

General Classification

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