The Wanty-Groupe Gobert cycling team has built a strong global reputation in a relatively short period, as the Belgian squad has quickly become a respected name on the UCI Pro Continental level and are participating in the first Tour de France in the team's history in 2017.
The team began as the Willems Verandas Continental Team, and have ridden under their current team name Wanty-Groupe Gobert since they receive co-title sponsorship from Wanty, a Belgian construction company, and Group Gobert, a Belgian building supplies corporation based in Thieusies.
Wanty-Groupe Gobert is outfitted by Czech cycling clothing manufacturer Kalas, and ride in striking all blue kits.
The team ride bicycles designed by Cube, a German bicycle manufacturer, using the companies Litening C:68 SL frame with Shimano Dura Ace components.
The Wanty-Group Gobert team is having another successful season thus far, as they continue their rise to the top of the UCI Europe Tour and Pro Continental landscape.
The team currently ranks 4th on the UCI Europe Tour behind the Cofidis Solutions Credits, Androni Gicattoli-Sidermec, and Direct Energie teams, with 2305.75 UCI points.
Guillame van Keirsbulck has emerged as an integral rider for the Wanty-Group Gobert squad, as the 26-year-old Belgian has made an impact for the team after leaving Quick-Step Floors after 2016. Van Keirsbulck had put up good results before coming to Wanty-Groupe Gobert, winning Three Days of De Panne and taking 7th at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in 2014 and finishing 5th at Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2015, but has also been a solid rider for the Wanty-Groupe Gobert team since signing this year. van Keirsbulck won Le Samyn in March, and is an important rider for his team at this year's edition of the Tour de France. The Belgian rider brought great publicity for the team after putting in a gutsy attack on Stage 4 of the Tour de France before being caught by the peloton in the final kilometers, and earning the most combative rider for his impressive effort on the stage. Wanty-Groupe Gobert will undoubtedly be looking for van Keirsbulck to continue to develop as a rider over the next couple years, as the young Belgian rider is ready to take the next step in his career.
Xandro Meurisse is another young rider for Wanty-Groupe Gobert who is poised to capture major victories in the near future. In 2016, Meurisse won the mountains classification at the Tour of Britain, while also finishing 3rd overall at Four Day of Dunkirk. Meurisse finished 2nd overall at the Tour de Luxembourg in June, while capturing the title in the best young rider classification. Each year Meurisse has taken a step forward in his technical abilities, and the Belgian rider will likely continue to make significant contribution to the Wanty-Groupe Gobert team.
Kenny DeHaes has taken the role as veteran leader and classics specialist for the Belgian squad. DeHaes is in his 11th year as a professional cyclist, and continues to put out good results. In 2017 thus far, DeHaes took 2nd at the unrelenting Carrefour Market Heistse Pijl, while also finishing 3rd at the Handzame Classic. Even more impressive was Dehaes 14th place showing in the loaded Belgian National Road Race Championship, finishing ahead of notable World Tour riders such as Philippe Gilbert, Jens Debusschere, Jurgen Roelandts, and Julien Vermote to name a few. DeHaes is important not only for is results, but for his importance as an experienced veteran leader for the young Wanty-Groupe Gobert team.
The nine-man roster for Wanty-Groupe Gobert at the 2017 Tour de France is made up of Guillame van Keirsbulck, Frederik Backaert, Guillame Martin, Dion Smith, Pieter Vanspeybrouck, Yoann Offredo, Marco Minaard, and Thomas Degand.
The complete roster for the 2017 Wanty-Groupe Gobert squad includes:
Riders
| ANTONINI Simone | 12.02.1991 | ITA | |
| BACKAERT Frederik | 13.03.1990 | BEL | |
| BAUGNIES Jérôme | 01.04.1987 | BEL | |
| DEGAND Thomas | 13.05.1986 | BEL | |
| DEHAES Kenny | 10.11.1984 | BEL | |
| DEVRIENDT Tom | 29.10.1991 | BEL | |
| KREDER Wesley | 04.11.1990 | NED | |
| LEVARLET Guillaume | 25.07.1985 | FRA | |
| MCNALLY Mark | 20.07.1989 | GBR | |
| MEURISSE Xandro | 31.01.1992 | BEL | |
| MINNAARD Marco | 11.04.1989 | NED | |
| NAPOLITANO Danilo | 31.01.1981 | ITA | |
| OFFREDO Yoann | 12.11.1986 | FRA | |
| PASQUALON Andrea | 02.01.1988 | ITA | |
| STENUIT Robin | 16.06.1990 | BEL | |
| VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume | 14.02.1991 | BEL | |
| VAN MELSEN Kevin | 01.04.1987 | BEL | |
| VANSPEYBROUCK Pieter | 10.02.1987 | BEL | |
| VEUCHELEN Frederik | 04.09.1978 | BEL |
Neo-Pros
| DOUBEY Fabien | 21.10.1993 | FRA | |
| MARTIN Guillaume | 09.06.1993 | FRA | |
| SMITH Dion | 03.03.1993 | NZL |
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