Team Wanty-Gobert Group have announced its 22nd and last rider for the 2017 season. Following the recent announcement that Lieuwe Westra was retiring from the sport, the Belgian team made a move to sign 23-year-old Dion Smith from New Zealand.

Third in the national championship of New Zealand in early January, the former One Pro Cycling rider, now residing in Girona, is expected to make his debut for the team in mid-February.

Amongst his best results last season were 5th overall in the 4 Jours de Dunkerque (2.HC) and tenth overall in both the Tour de Yorkshire (2.1) and Herald Sun Tour (2.1).

Jean-François Bourlart (General Manager): “The goal of our team is to keep developing young talents. We were talking to Dion since internal changes at One Pro Cycling. Unfortunately we had no more space for him this year. But following the stop of Lieuwe Westra, we had a golden opportunity to hire him. It is important to be able to secure a talented young rider as him for two years.”

Hilaire Van der Schueren (Sports Director): “We have been following Dion for a while and his consistence has always attracted us. We are happy to welcome a rider with his profile in the team. He is a true allrounder, able to express himself on all types of terrain. I want to see him at work to discover his limits. After the Herald Sun Tour in Australia, he will return with us to compete in the Tour of Algarve.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here