Ahead of his first participation in the Giro d'Italia, the 26-year-old Belgian sprinter Gerben Thijssen has extended his contract with Intermarché-Wanty until the end of 2027.
Since joining in 2022, Gerben Thijssen has come into his own with Intermarché-Wanty on the international sprint scene, securing his first professional victory at the 2022 Four Days of Dunkirk. This marked the beginning of a series of nine successes, including his first World Tour win at the Tour of Poland, as well as victories in classics such as the Bredene-Koksijde Classic, Ronde van Limburg, Gooikse Pijl, and Omloop van het Houtland, beating top sprinters like Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen, Caleb Ewan, and Dylan Groenewegen.
His development continued with his first participation in a Monument race at Paris-Roubaix 2023, which he finished, and his debut in the Tour de France last summer. At the start of 2024, he reached a new personal milestone by winning a points classification for the first time at the Tour of the Algarve, thanks in particular to his victory on the opening stage. His growing number of top placings each year reflect his consistency in mass sprints, with 24 top-ten finishes in 2024. Thanks to this contract extension, the Walloon World Team can continue to rely on its Belgian finisher for at least two more seasons.
"The trust that Intermarché-Wanty shows in me, from my teammates, the staff, and the management, is an important factor in my sporting development, and that's what makes this contract extension so valuable. We form a great group of friends, and the professional approach of the Performance Team allows me to continue to progress. Last winter, I made concrete progress in the area of nutrition thanks to the advice of Astrid Roekens and Jemme Terryn, and my training was optimized by Adriaan Helmantel. The investment put in place to allow each rider to excel is palpable in all areas. A perfect example is the targeted preparation for the Giro, with a high-altitude training camp for the climbers and specific sprint training on the coast for Gijs Van Hoecke and myself. Coming out of a consistent 2024 season, where I often came close to victory, I have continued to work hard to get closer to the best sprinters. I hope to be rewarded for my efforts at the Giro, to be able to achieve my ambition with a prestigious victory to start a new chapter in my career."
"Gerben Thijssen is a rider who focuses on all aspects of his performance with great discipline and hard work: nutrition, training, and muscle strengthening. His confidence in the approach of our Performance Team is essential to his progress. He took advantage of the winter to gain physical strength. It's a shame that the spring hasn't yet yielded the expected results, with bad luck playing a major role in important races like Bruges-La Panne and the Scheldeprijs. However, with the experience gained in recent years, including his first Tour de France, it's only a matter of time before his hard work translates into new results. We clearly see the physical progress he has made and therefore continue to invest in him with confidence. With his nine victories in less than four seasons, he has become an important pillar at Intermarché-Wanty, and we believe he still has a lot to offer. We look forward to seeing what he can show at the Giro d'Italia and in the second part of the season."
