INTERMARCHÉ - WANTY

Following its incorporation into the WorldTour peloton in 2021, Intermarché – Wanty was one of the teams to make its debut in La Vuelta 21.The Belgian team joined the professional peloton in 2009 under the name of Willems Verandas. Since then, it has maintained a strong team for the central-European country, accompanying riders from other nationalities in the fight to obtain partial victories and overall triumphs in one-week races.

Sponsored by the Intermarché supermarkets in 2021, the team still preserves its sponsorship from Wanty that has accompanied it throughout the majority of its successes. Its main ones were the earned by Enrico Gasparotto in the Amstel Gold Race 2016 and, more recently, Taco van der Hoorn in the Giro d’Italia 2021. The current Belgian team line-up features two riders who have previously obtained partial victories in La Vuelta: Estonian rider Rein Taaramäe (2011) and Dutch rider Danny van Poppel (2015).  

More recently, the young Eritrean Biniam Girmay experienced a spectacular triumph at the Gent-Wevelgem 2022. In 2021, the team won a stage in the Giro d’Italia with Taco van der Hoorn, and a stage in La Vuelta, with Rein Taaramäe. Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking wore the red jersey for seven stages during La Vuelta 21 after winning it at Rincón de la Victoria. In 2022, Louis Meintes emerged victorious at the tough ramps of Les Praeres, obtaining a stage victory for the team. Last years, Rui Costa took the stage victory in Lekunberri after being the strongest of the breakaway.