This Sunday, August 18th, five young riders from Wanty-ReUz-Technord will be on the starting line of the Tour de l’Avenir, the most prestigious race on the U23 calendar. This is a new accolade for the work of Kévin van Melsen and the Intermarché-Wanty development team, which was already represented by four riders last year.
For this 60th edition, contested between the national selections, we find Aklilu Arefayne (Eritrea) who will race with the World Cycling Centre for the second consecutive year, Huub Artz and Wouter Toussaint (Netherlands), Simone Gualdi (Italy) and Tim Rex (Belgium).
The seven-stage race starts in Strasbourg with a 7-kilometer individual time trial, followed by two hilly stages, then two summit finishes at La Rosière and Les Karellis, and finally two stages on Italian soil with a grand finale to the top of the Colle delle Finestre.
This season, the five young Wanty-ReUz-Technord riders have all excelled in international competitions. Winner of Gent-Wevelgem U23 and a stage of the Giro Next Gen, Huub Artz has consistently distinguished himself on all terrains, also with the World Team Intermarché-Wanty that he will join in 2025, achieving a podium at the Tour of Oman and 11th place overall at the Tour of Norway.
His compatriot Wouter Toussaint won the Triptyque Ardennais in May, before finishing fifth in the Peace Race and second in a stage of the Giro Next Gen, in contention for a podium overall if he hadn’t been forced to abandon due to a crash.
At only 19 years old, the Italian Simone Gualdi has impressed in his first season as an U23. Second in the Triptyque Ardennais behind Toussaint, he has just finished ninth in the mountainous Tour du Val d’Aoste. He has made his mark in his appearances with the World Team Intermarché-Wanty by competing with the pros for the top 10: Circuit de Wallonie (10th), Famenne Classic (11th) and the Volta NXT Classic (16th).
Never one to spare himself, the Belgian Tim Rex has distinguished himself in the role of valuable teammate, both with Wanty-ReUz-Technord and Intermarché-Wanty. Eighth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23, he won the mountain classification of the Peace Race, finished fourth in the Cours de côte d’Herbeumont and finished just outside the top 10 in the Tour du Val d’Aoste.
Finally, the Eritrean Aklilu Arefayne (20 years old) is starting his second Tour de l’Avenir with several top 10 finishes this season, including several in the Tour du Rwanda against professionals. In June, he became vice-champion of Eritrea among the Elite and doubled up in the U23 category by winning the national title in both the road race and the time trial.
Kévin Van Melsen (Sports Director):
“Having five of our young Wanty-ReUz-Technord riders at the start of the Tour de l’Avenir is a great honor. It’s truly exceptional, as few development teams are represented by such a large contingent in this race, considered the Tour de France for U23 riders. It’s a testament to the quality of the training structure we’ve set up at Intermarché-Wanty and a reward for our efforts this year. Given the very hilly course, our riders should play a leading role.”
“Wouter Toussaint has taken a step forward with us, he has shown that he is one of the best climbers. Huub Artz is one of the strongest riders in the U23 peloton. Our two Dutchmen are capable of doing a good opening time trial and then continuing that form on the first hilly stages to aim for the yellow jersey. Huub has solid credentials as a stage hunter. Another rider who has taken a step forward with us is Simone Gualdi, who discovered his qualities in the high mountains at the Tour du Val d’Aoste and who also has qualities in the sprint, in case of a small group finish. He prepared in an altitude training camp in Livigno and like Huub, he can be a contender for stage victories.”
“For the Belgian selection, I am convinced that Tim Rex can play an important role alongside one of the favorites for the final victory, Jarno Widar. Tim has the mental and physical abilities to dedicate himself to his leader. Finally, Aklilu Arefayne will be at the start for the second consecutive year, with more maturity and confidence. Aklilu has qualities in both the sprint and the mountains that can allow him to shine on the difficult course of this edition.”
