About us - Intermarché Wanty

VC ATH TO WORLD TOUR

From the launch of an amateur team in 1974 to leading the World Ranking for the first time in February 2023, and winning the Green Jersey and 3 stages in the Tour de France 2024, this is the inspiring journey of the first Walloon World Team in history, driven by hard work and passion.

2024

Winner of 3 stages & green jersey in the Tour de France

“Ever since I was a child, taking part in the Tour de France seemed a nearly inaccessible dream. Winning 3 stages was incredible, it meant opening a new chapter in the history of cycling, for us Eritreans and Africans. This historic success meant so much to my team and Jean-François Bourlart who dreamed of this first Tour victory for so long. We’ve shown that we were able to win in the most important races.” – B. Girmay

2024

2023

First two women with pro contract

As part of the UCI Cyclocross Team, junior European champion Lauren Molengraaf and Belgian U23 champion Julie Brouwers became the first two female athletes in the history of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty to sign a professional contract with the structure.

2023

Number one of the world

“For the first time in its history, our World Team was in the lead of the UCI World Ranking. It was an extraordinary achievement of which we never thought it would be possible. It was a fantastic reward for all devoted people, both riders and staff, who have worked day and night since the launch of the VC Ath in 1974.” – J.F. Bourlart

2023

Launch of a Continental Development Team

The structure launched Circus-ReUz-Technord under the direction of recently retired rider Kévin Van Melsen, aiming to offer U23 talents an opportunity to grow in a professional environment and create a talent pool for the World Team. After a blistering start with prestigious victories, at least five riders of Circus-ReUz-Technord signed their first professional contract during the team’s first year of existence.

2023

2022

Writing history in Ghent-Wevelgem

“Ghent-Wevelgem will always be the race which shakes up our team. Exactly six years after the disappearance of Antoine Demoitié in this race, our young Biniam Girmay became the first African winner of a major classic, writing cycling history and provoking a brutal revolution in the development of our team.” – J.F. Bourlart

2022

2021

Pink and red dreams

The first participations in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana will remain in the annals of the team. In the third stage of the Giro, Taco van der Hoorn was the last survivor of a six man breakaway, triumphing solo ahead of the sprinting peloton.

It was in the same offensive way that Rein Taaramäe won a stage in the Vuelta, becoming the first rider of the team to lead the general classification in a Grand Tour. With Odd Eiking taking over the red jersey, the team led the Vuelta for nine days.

2021

Step up to the World Tour

“This step up to the highest level, the first division, was a logical step for our team. We had been three times the best team in the second division, we won a major classic such as the Amstel Gold Race. It was time to step up a gear so we took over the company managing CCC Team to have access to the World Tour.” – J.F. Bourlart

2021

2020

Launch of a Cyclocross Team

Quinten Hermans and Corné van Kessel were the first riders to plunge in the mud with the colors of Circus-Wanty-Gobert. The cyclocross structure built around them quickly rose to the top under the direction of the Wellens brothers, with young talents winning national, European and world titles less than two years after the launch of the team.

2020

2017

First Tour de France

“It is being said that a rider is not a rider until he participates in the Tour de France. This also counts for a team. This first wild card for the Tour de France changed our lives. The way we rode also.” – J.F. Bourlart

2017

2016

Number one in the Europe Tour

The victory in the Amstel Gold Race was one of the many achievements of Wanty-Groupe Gobert in 2016. The regularity of the team was rewarded with the overall victory in the Europe Tour, the ranking of the second division teams in the races on the European continent, at the end of three successive seasons 2016, 2017 and 2018.

2016

First World Tour success in the Amstel Gold Race

“The decision to resume racing after the tragical loss of Antoine Demoitié was not easy to take. But Enrico Gasparotto took the lead and told the guys that they had to pull themselves together and fight, all together, to achieve something exceptional. Winning the Amstel Gold Race with Enrico, our biggest victory, our first success in a classic, in this context, that was just unbelievable.” – J.F. Bourlart

2016

Antoine Demoité & Rob Goris will never be forgotten

A double scar. The wounds are healed, but the pain still resonates. Exceptionally sad incidents staying in the memories of all people having a warm heart for the team and for cycling. The loss of two riders: Antoine Demoitié and Rob Goris. Both were hit by fate, with immense sadness for the whole team.

2016

2014

Hilaire Van Der Schueren joins the team

In 2014 Hilaire Van der Schueren was one of the new personalities joining the team. At the age of 75, Hilaire Van der Schueren is completing his 50th season in the DS car in 2023. After ten years in the structure of Jean-François Bourlart, he said goodbye to his role as a sports director at the end of 2023.

2014

2013

Launch of the Want You Club

In 2013 the team launched a business club, with the goal of bringing its partners together. The members reunite eight times per year to build relationships.

The ten companies forming the Want You Club in 2013 are still part of the club which now grew to almost hundred participating companies.

2013

2011

Step up to the Pro Continental level

The team continued making progression in the peloton, climbing to the Pro Continental level with the arrival of a new partner: Veranda’s Willems-Accent and finishing in the top ten in its first Monument, the Tour of Flanders.

2011

2010

First Hors Catégorie win in the Tour de Wallonie

After a couple of victories in UCI races of second category, Veranda’s Willems managed to beat the big teams in the second stage of the Tour de Wallonie 2010 with Stefan van Dijk defeating several top riders in the sprint, a first victory on the Hors Catégorie level.

2010

2007

Step up to the Continental level

In 2007 the team acquired a Continental licence under the name Storez-Ledecq Matériaux, with Jean-François Bourlart as manager.

2007

2003

A provincial title in 2003 inspires to aim higher

Thomas Degand won the championship of Hainaut in 2003, a victory which is seen as the first big win by the historical members of the structure and followed by more prestigious victories in the U23 category.

2003

2001

Jean-François Bourlart joins the team

Jean-François Bourlart, the current manager, joined his cycling friends Yves Lessens and Jean-Marc Rossignon in 2001. Attracting Gobert Matériaux as a sponsor was one of his first accomplishments.

2001

1997

Yves Lessens and Jean-Marc Rossignon take over the club

After his cycling career, Yves Lessens accepted the offer to become a sports director in the team with a budget of around 400 000 franks and asked his friend Jean-Marc Rossignon to join him.

1997

1974

The beginning

In 1974 Francis Boitte launched a cycling club, named Vélo Club d’Ath, aiming to introduce the youth of the region to cycling. The foundations of the project were laid.

1974