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“We pursue our dream to win big races”

During its official presentation held in Albir (Alicante) this Friday, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux unveiled its ambitions for the 2022 season to the press and partners. The team led by Jean-François Bourlart is heading for its second year as a World Team, with a squad of 29 riders from twelve different nationalities.

“Each year, we aspire to reach a milestone while keeping our feet on the ground, because we know where we come from. The secret of our success is that we have remained a united group over the years, like a family whose sights are set in the same direction. Everyone shares the same values, whether it's staff, riders or partners, and that's what makes us strong. We start 2022 with the same dream that has driven us since the launch of our project, which is winning big races, while remaining realistic. As a Belgian World Team, we have the ambition to shine in the classics and that is why we have recruited, among others, a rider of the caliber of Alexander Kristoff. We want to influence the finals more and get as close as possible to the podiums. The team had great moments in the Giro and the Vuelta, now we want to do the same in the Tour de France. The first week, featuring great stages in Denmark, northern France and Binche, drives us to display great ambitions. Last year, the arrival of title partner Intermarché alongside our historical partners helped us in making this leap to the World Tour level. Intermarché has truly felly in love with cycling after a first year with us and now wishes to become a major actor in the peloton in the years to come. Together, we want to continue to grow this project, from this year the support of the Belgian subsidiary is associated with the French. And this ambition does not stop at the World Tour because the wish is, in the long term, to extend the structure containing a cyclocross team with women's and continental development teams. Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux is the first Walloon team in the World Tour and that is why we want to be a driving force for the Walloon Region. Thanks to fundraising at the end-of-season Gala, we have released a budget for youth teams who replied to our call for projects. It's about helping these clubs, mentoring young riders and identifying talent. It is also the role of a World Tour team to get them on the bike and offer them dreams. "

“We have planned this season with a clear strategy and suitable preparation. We want to be front and center during the classics, which is why our core has been strengthened in quality. We also focused our attention on the sprint trains dedicated to Alexander Kristoff, Biniam Girmay and Gerben Thijssen. This is an area we want to improve in 2022, to bring us closer to victory. With Lorenzo Rota and Quinten Hermans, we also have solid arguments for the Ardennes classics. " “The motto for this season will be the same as the previous year, meaning continue our progress. This progress takes place on several fronts: nutrition, equipment, the Performance team, the investment in preparation with training camps. This requires many changes. Thanks to the friendly atmosphere that reigns in the team, these changes are greatly facilitated. We are lucky to have a close-knit group, supervised by a strong sports management with great experience. We are aware of our means, and with humility we will try to do even better than in 2021.”

"I'm heading to this new season with a great feeling. The atmosphere in the team is very different from what I have experienced in the past, the riders and the staff are close together and I already feel very good there. I like the equipment and I can't wait to compete in my first races. I am also delighted to finally be part of a Belgian team, a country that I love and that I consider my second homeland. I like the project led by Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, which has shown me its total confidence. Of course, with the responsibilities comes a certain pressure, but it's something I'm used to. My first objective will be to shine on the classics, for that I want to reach my form in March. The Tour de France will of course be important for me, and also the Worlds because the route suits me. "

"I have great memories of 2021, with my victories in the Giro d'Italia, the Benelux Tour and the Omloop van het Houtland. The stage victory at the Giro, especially, is a moment that will be difficult to replicate as it meant so much to me and to the team. What made this magnificent success possible was the trust the team placed in me. I was selected for the Giro, then they identified the third stage as a potential opportunity for a breakaway and I received the support of the team to take on this role. We also have the best equipment, and the preparation was ideal thanks to the altitude training camps. Doing as well as 2021 will be a big challenge. But I do not intend to change my plans because I dream of other great victories. Winning breakaways requires having luck on your side, for the same price my 2021 victories fail a kilometer from the finish. I am ready to slip into the breakaways again in 2022, but also to help my teammates as much as possible. "

"From the first contact with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, I immediately felt the confidence it places in me as a sprinter. I was welcomed with open arms during the first two training camps, I even had fun while building the form for this season. In this family atmosphere, I am convinced that I can flourish because I feel transformed. I will have many opportunities to express myself, with the support of my new entourage and the advice of riders like Alexander Kristoff, I can't wait to pin my first IWG shirt at Etoile de Bessèges. "

"My silver medal at the Worlds in Leuven turned out to be a turning point for my country but also for my career. From now on, the expectations will be high and the motivation too. This season, the big goal will be the Giro d’Italia, my very first Grand Tour. I have a very good race program with several monuments in particular, and I will take advantage of Alexander Kristoff's experience in a race like Milan-San Remo, which he has won in the past. I have felt at home since I joined Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux and the atmosphere, both friendly and professional, allows me to progress serenely. I'm ready for my debut at the Mallorca Challenge. "

"The team gave me their trust from the first days and that's one of the reasons why I wanted this new start in 2021. Since then, I have done everything to reward this trust and it has resulted in a fine performance in the Tour de France. At the Vuelta, without the bad luck, the top 10 seemed within my reach. I approach 2022 with renewed ambitions, the target will be to achieve good results, whatever the event. My attention will be mainly focused on the general classification of the Grand Tours, and a top 10 on the Tour de France would be the perfect scenario. "

Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux 2022:
Bakelants Jan
Bystrom Sven Erik 
Claeys Dimitri
De Gendt Aimé
Delacroix Théo
Devriendt Tom
Girmay Biniam
Goossens Kobe
Hermans Quinten
Hirt Jan
Huys Laurens
Johansen Julius 
Kristoff Alexander 
Meintjes Louis
Page Hugo
Pasqualon Andrea 
Peak Barnabas 
Petilli Simone
Petit Adrien
Planckaert Baptiste
Rota Lorenzo
Taaramäe Rein
Thijssen Gerben 
Van der Hoorn Taco 
Van Kessel Corné
Van Melsen Kevin 
Van Poppel Boy
Vliegen Loic
Zimmermann Georg 

Sports Direction:
Visbeek Aike
De Neef Steven
Piva Valerio
Rossignon Jean-Marc
Van der Schueren Hilaire
Vanspeybrouck Pieter
Wellens Bart

RESULTS

General Classification

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