UCI WorldTeam
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty are relative newcomers to the men’s WorldTour, having joined cycling’s top-level as recently as 2021 when they inherited CCC’s WT licence. Not much was expected of the Belgian outfit in their first year at cycling’s top-level, though after they picked up two Grand Tour stage wins with Taco van der Hoorn and Rein Taaramäe they were quickly touted as the best new team on the block.
With a history that they can trace back to 2009 and the Continental-level Willems Verandas squad, they weren’t exactly a ‘new team’ in 2021, but the way in which they rode quickly garnered them leagues of new fans from across the globe. Midway through 2021, the team brought in a hot young prospect in Biniam Girmay.
Despite being in his early 20s, the Eritrean has become the talisman of the team and - just last year - bagged them victories in Gent-Wevelgem and the Giro d’Italia. Girmay also made history himself in these races, becoming the first Black African to win a prestigious Spring Classic and a stage of a Grand Tour. The team have pinned their future to Girmay, extending his contract through to 2026 and signing a number of new riders to support him in his goals. Mike Teunissen, Rui Costa and Lilian Calmejane all joined the team in the 2022/23 season, ready and raring to board the Girmay hype train.
Provided by FirstCycling
Gerben Thijssen | 25 | 15 | 1108 | |
Biniam Girmay | 24 | 12 | 972 | |
Georg Zimmermann | 26 | 5 | 961 | |
Rui Costa | 37 | 34 | 841 | |
Lorenzo Rota | 28 | 2 | 766 |
Remco Evenepoel tops favourites list at time trial-heavy race
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty sprinter storms to win
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Whilst at the UAE Tour, Alex checked out the race bike of Jan Hirt: a Cube Litening C:68X. The climbing talent and his Wanty-Gobert team are riding on the aero bike from the German bike brand.
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