Promising Belgian puncher Luca Van Boven has signed a two-year contract with Intermarché-Wanty, where he will make his WorldTour debut after two seasons at the Pro Continental level.
Hailing from Zottegem, the 24-year-old rider has shown his potential this season on selective courses within the professional peloton, notably finishing fourth overall in the Four Days of Dunkirk thanks to his remarkable performance on the challenging Mont Cassel, just six seconds behind winner Sam Bennett, and a 28th place finish in the exceptionally difficult edition of the Flèche Wallonne.
Trained alongside Arnaud De Lie and his future teammate Vito Braet, Luca Van Boven is about to join the WorldTour from Bingoal-Wallonie Bruxelles, following in the footsteps of his compatriots Tom Paquot and Laurenz Rex, who have become key members of the WorldTeam.
His profile as a fast puncher with an offensive temperament has led him to numerous placings in French Cup events such as the Grand Prix du Morbihan (6th) or Boucles de l’Aulne (8th), the Tour du Finistère (12th) but also in stages of the Tour de Wallonie and the Région Pays de la Loire Tour.
As a junior, Luca Van Boven had distinguished himself among the best riders in the U23 category by winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and finishing second in the prestigious Trofeo Alcide Degasperi.
Luca Van Boven: “From the outside, I have observed with admiration how many young talents have progressed by joining Intermarché-Wanty. I wanted to follow this trajectory and join this team which has the reputation of having a familya atmosphere. For me, continuing my development in a Belgian team was also an important factor. In the races, I noticed the quality of the material used by Intermarché-Wanty and I can’t wait to ride my Cube Litening. I grew up with a passion for the Flemish Classics, they are the races that I love most and where I hope to shine in my new colors. In the long term, I would like to be an integral part of the Classics core. To do this, I will have to prove myself and show that I can be an added value. I like races with hilly courses, short and steep climbs, but also the ones with more elevation gain.”
Aike Visbeek (Performance Manager): “We have identified a solid margin of progression in Luca Van Boven. He has similar characteristics to riders like Vito Braet and Laurenz Rex, with whom we have managed to take the step up to the highest level. We are convinced that Luca can follow in their footsteps. He is a versatile rider who we are particularly eager to see in action in the Flemish and Ardennes Classics. His results in the Flèche Wallonne and the Four Days of Dunkirk testify to his qualities in demanding events. Luca is professional in his approach and dedicated to the team’s objectives, so we are delighted to have him as a new asset to our WorldTeam.”
