The young 17 year old Norwegian talent Felix Ørn-Kristoff, bronze medallist of the junior World Championships, signed with Intermarché-Wanty until at least the end of 2027. It is a strong signal for the Walloon structure directed by Jean-François Bourlart, which pursues its investment in the future by attracting the best international talents.
During season 2024, his last year in the junior category, Felix Ørn-Kristoff will benefit of a support of the Walloon structure in preparation of his transition to the U23 category the next year with Wanty-ReUz-Technord, the Continental team directed by Kévin Van Melsen, and his step up to the professional peloton with the World Team from 2026.
In addition to his bronze medal in the latest World Championships in Glasgow, Ørn-Kristoff also finished ninth in the European Championships on the Col du VAM in Drenthe. As a first year junior, he won the three stages and final classification of the Nations Cup Hungary with authority and obtained numerous other great results in the sprint in internationally renowned competitions.
Also skilled on the track, where he won several national titles and races in the Apeldoorn Next Generation event, Felix Ørn-Kristoff is none other than the younger brother of former European champion Alexander Kristoff, multiple winner of Tour de France stages, Milano-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders, who raced with Intermarché-Wanty in 2022 and offered the Walloon team five victories.
« I admire the riders of Intermarché-Wanty for a long time already. I remember the classics in 2022, success achieved against the odds, it was incredible. The classics are the races which make me dream and which are part of the DNA of Intermarché-Wanty. That's why I really wanted to join this Belgian structure. When they were riding for this team, my brother Alexander and Sven Erik Bystrøm both unanimously encouraged me in my choice because in all domains the team is a good fit for my needs. The aim is to make the steps to the professional world at my rhythm. I'm aware of the fact that the transition from the junior category to the World Tour is a huge step, so I'll follow a development programme to build a solid base for my future career, without pressure and in first instance combined with school. Wanty-ReUz-Technord is the perfect environment for this. I'm very enthusiastic to start my career within the structure of Intermarché-Wanty. And maybe one day, I can achieve my ultimate dream in the jersey of the team by winning the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix or the World Championships."
Felix Ørn-Kristoff Tweet
"I'm very proud that a talent as coveted as Felix Ørn-Kristoff has chosen to join the structure of Intermarché-Wanty. Thanks to the relationship of confidence that we built with his family, with his father and trainer Stein and his brother Alexander, our project has emerged as the best option to exploit his potential. They know how we work and are aware of the quality of our development structure, in which the development of talents occupies a central role. We established a clear and realistic long term plan for Felix, with professional performance support. We attach a lot of importance to the U23 category for the development of our young riders, no matter their physical capabilities. Our expertise in the domain of the classics offers a perfect environment for him to specialise in these races and to develop as a sprinter. This is also an aspect in which we distinguish ourselves from other structures. In the footsteps of Madis Mihkels, Francesco Busatto and Alexy Faure-Prost, Felix Ørn-Kristoff is the next talent to join our development structure, which we will keep reinforcing. This is a strong signal for the future."
Aike Visbeek (Performance Manager) Tweet
"Felix Ørn-Kristoff is an exceptional talent, both in the sprint as on challenging parcours. His bronze medal at a particularly difficult World Championship speaks for itself, especially achieved as a first year junior. He has the mentality of hard worker which characterises the Kristoff family. I will always remember my former teammate Alexander as the best example of perseverance, devotion and determination in my entire career. This is an attitude we highly appreciate within Intermarché-Wanty. For his last season in the junior category, Felix set big goals such as Paris-Roubaix and the championships. Thanks to a collaboration with a Belgian junior team, we managed to establish the best possible competition programme to prepare him for his goals. He benefits of professional equipment and, taking into account his studies, he will join Wanty-ReUz-Technord for training camps and course recons. In this way, we want to foster his step by step development before he will defend the colours of our Development team. The arrival of Felix Ørn-Kristoff motivates all our staff members to pursue the hard work behind the scenes in favour of the future of our structure."
Kévin Van Melsen (Sports Director) Tweet