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GP de La Marseillaise

Zimmermann starts the season with confidence & a contract extension

Georg Zimmermann, who is one of the six riders starting the season at the  GP de la Marseillaise (1.1, 30/01) this Sunday, extended his contract with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux until the end of 2024. The 24 year old German rider joined the World Team at the end of 2020 coming from Team CCC, where he became a professional. In his first season with the team of Jean-François Bourlart, he immediately won a stage of the Tour de l’Ain at the end of July and wore the leader’s jersey the next day. He took this first professional victory after his first Tour de France, during which he finished 8th in the stage towards Libourne. The rider born in Augsbourg also distinguished himself on home soil in 2021 with a bronze medal in the national championships and the young rider’s jersey and a fifth place in the general classification in the Tour of Germany. 

So Zimmermann will start his season in the traditional French opening race. It will also be Hugo Page‘s first appearance in the colors of the Belgian team. Just like his compatriot Théo Delacroix, he will begin the season on home soil. They will be accompanied by Italian climber Simone Petilli and two Belgian riders who already performed well in this first French Cup of the season in the past: Tom Devriendt (3rd in 2019) and Aimé De Gendt (10th in 2019). The peloton will leave Château-Gombert, one of the northern suburbs of Marseille, for 174.5 kilometer before returning to the centre of the coastal city. The final takes place near the Mediterranean Sea, where the Route des Crêtes (3.3 km at 9%), the Pas d’Oulier (4.4 km à 5.3%) and the Col de la Gineste (7.6 km at  3%) with the top 10 kilometer before the finish line are waiting. 

« I'm very happy and motivated to start 2022 with a contract extension with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux! I think that there are not many teams where professionalism and a friendly atmosphere are so well balanced. We train hard and we invest a lot of time in the improvement of all aspects of our performances, but also attach a lot of importance to having fun together. Just like the whole team, I look to the future with confidence. Contrary to last season, I didn't have any physical problems this winter. That’s why I can’t wait to start my season at the GP de La Marseillaise. I’m participating for the first time and as what I have seen from the course, it should really suit me. We did the recon of the final with the team this Saturday. The climbers in our line up can distinguish themselves in the long succession of climbs, but there is also an opportunity for our fast riders as the final 10 kilometers are rather downhill. I want to show myself from the season start, because my goal is to make the selection for my second Tour de France later this year. Winning a stage in one of the three Grand Tours with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux is my ultimate dream! »

« Georg Zimmermann fits perfectly in the vision of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux and he's a high-value asset for our team. His performance in Eschborn-Frankfurt illustrates this. He helped Andrea Pasqualon for the sprint after a long day in the breakaway. In my eyes, this example of teamspirit and allround characteristics on the highest level is exceptional for a young rider. Georg has proven himself several times alongside his leaders, but also managed to take his first professional victory in the Tour de l'Ain. He feels good in our team and prepares for each race in the same serious manner, no matter which role he has to adopt. We are happy that we can continue to discover the limits of this talented rider in the coming years. »

RESULTS

General Classification

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