The Belgian talents of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty were fully involved in the successful start of the season for the World Team. After the first two pro wins for Kobe Goossens on Mallorca, his youngest compatriots followed his example, both working for their leaders and achieving results themselves.
In the difficult Figueira Champions Classic, Rune Herregodts was rewarded for his aggressive racing style with second place. With Dries De Pooter and Goossens, he then rode alongside Rui Costa in the Tour of Algarve, achieving a top ten on the top of Alto da Fóia and in de closing time trial himself.
With the support of Tom Paquot, Arne Marit took 4th place in his first sprint with the team in the opening stage of the Tour of Oman. The two men then worked for Rein Taaramäe, who finished just outside the podium.
Laurenz Rex also showed himself in the Tour of Andalusia, working for Lorenzo Rota with Laurens Huys and in a long breakaway, which he concluded in 5th place on the steep ramps towards Alcalá de los Gazules.
Our young Belgian riders will be reunited this week, in the approach to the cobble classics opening weekend: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Saturday) and Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (Sunday). All participated in several course recons sinds November 2022 under the supervision of Talent Coach Dimitri Claeys. Dries De Pooter and Rune Herregodts will make their debut in the opening weekend, with Arne Marit and Laurenz Rex participating for the second time. Last named even took 18th place of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne last season.
« I surprised myself with my results in Portugal last week. My podium in Figueira gave me a lot of confidence. I then managed to finish in the slipstream of Rui Costa and other big names on the steep slopes of Alto da Fóia and achieve another top ten in the closing time trial of the Tour of Algarve. It is very encouraging. »
« Since my arrival in Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, all my expectations on a performance level were met. The extra recon of the TT course and the investments in the time trial equipment are examples showing the importance the team attaches to my development. I was also nicely surprised by the family atmosphere in this World Team, especially coming from a smaller team. Of course, the excellent results contribute to this, but even when things didn't work out as planned we have a constructive meeting to solve the problem. All these factors enabled me to make a good start. »
« The next weeks I want to benefit from my good form in each race, working for our leaders or chasing a good result myself. It will be my first opening weekend. I feel quite serene going approaching this new step, because we started preparing these important races in November already. I even did the recon of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne three times. I also realize the importance of the guidance of experimented riders. I noticed in Portugal, what a difference it makes when riders like Rui Costa or Mike Teunissen take you under your wings. They transmit their calm and their positioning skills, taking away a lot of nervousness from the youngest among us in key moments. »
« This start of the season shows that I made a step forward this winter, however, not everything went as planned. Following a crash I wasn't allowed to ride a bike for three weeks in January. With my trainer Christophe Prémont we searched for alternative training sessions and in the end it worked out quite well. I also benefited from the training camp of Circus-ReUz-Technord in Alicante to prepare for my first races. »
« My season start even went better than expected. I played an important role alongside Lorenzo Rota and I'm satisfied with my performance in the breakaway in the third stage. These performances are possible because all circumstances are ideal to get the best out of myself. I'm impressed by the speed and the rigidity of the Cube Litening C:68X, the best bike I ever had. The support of the staff is constant, there's no feeling of negative pressure to perform. There's no rivalry among the riders, all are motivated to work for one another. That's why I feel so good with Intermarché-Circus-Wanty. »
« I hope that the team can realize a good classics campaign. I made a good start in the Belgian opening weekend last season and I aim to do the same this time. My goal is to collect some good results on the way to Paris-Roubaix, my preferred race. »
