Belgian rider Vito Braet has extended his contract with Intermarché-Wanty for an additional two seasons, tying his future to the structure of Jean-François Bourlart until at least the end of 2027.
Immediately upon his arrival in the World Tour with the Walloon team in 2024, the 24-year-old showcased his talent by securing podium finishes at the Figuera Champions Classic, second behind Remco Evenepoel, at the Volta Valenciana where he was only beaten in the sprint by Jonathan Milan, and also in his first Grand Tour with a third place in the bunch sprint in La Vuelta in the streets of Santander.
Vito Braet has also established himself as a reliable member of the classics squad, achieving notable results such as fifth place in Bredene-Koksijde, ninth in the Brabantse Pijl, twelfth in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and thirteenth at the Amstel Gold Race. He is also valued by his leaders for his role in the sprint trains alongside Gerben Thijssen and Biniam Girmay, as well as for his attacking prowess, as seen in the most recent Tour of Flanders.
"Continuing my career with Intermarché-Wanty was a natural decision. The way the team operates gives me a lot of confidence, I'm thinking about the performance plan that allows me to be in top form during key periods. With my coach Adriaan Helmantel, we followed this strategy focusing on on the classics, and it worked well. I also regularly have the opportunity to play my own card, which motivates me even more to give my all in training and for my teammates in competition." "Biniam Girmay's victory in the Circuit Franco-Belge and Laurenz Rex's win in Le Samyn are unforgettable moments, because it was new for me to be part of a winning team, but especially because the presence of our sponsors made these successes unique. The family atmosphere within the structure is really special, and as a Belgian rider, I appreciate this environment with a strong cycling tradition. Finally, we have high-quality equipment that allows us to compete with the world's best." "After the Brabantse Pijl, I took a few days of rest before preparing for my second competition block of the season. With the preselection for the Tour de France, we're heading to a high-altitude training camp in Andorra, and then I'll resume racing at the Boucles de la Mayenne. In June, we have several classics planned before the Belgian championship in Binche, where we intend to shine on the home ground of our historical sponsor Wanty."
"Throughout the spring, Vito Braet has confirmed the consistent progress he made last season, a direct result of his attentive adherence to the training plans and strategy of our Performance Team. That's why we quickly considered extending his contract. Vito's role is focused on the Flemish classics, in the team around Biniam Girmay, but he also receives the freedom to seize his own opportunities. His team spirit combined with his ability to achieve results makes Vito an important element of our team. He excels in positioning and brings a certain calmness to our classics group; he's capable of maintaining an overview and quickly adapt in difficult situations. That's a remarkable quality at his young age. The Flemish classics constitute his main objective for the years to come, while at the same time he demonstrated last year that he was capable of playing a role in the finales of selective races like the Amstel Gold Race and Brabantse Pijl. In the future, we envision a role for him in races like Milan-Sanremo."
