Mark McNally has extended his contract with Wanty-Groupe Gobert until the end of 2018, the Belgian team has announced. Italian rider Simone Antonini will also race with the team for an additional year.
28-year-old McNally, raced in some of the most important races for Wanty such as the Tour of Flanders and Ghent-Wevelgem and the Briton also finished on the podium in Ronde van Drenthe and Eneco Tour in the past two years.
With these two extensions, Wanty-Groupe Gobert is complete for 2018 and will have 21 riders in their squad. Five riders depart the team with Kenny Dehaes, Robin Stenuit and Guillaume Levarlet riding for new teams and Frederik Veuchelen and Danilo Napolitano retiring. Odd Christian Eiking (FDJ), Boris Vallée (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Timothy Dupont (Crelan-Willems) and Bart De Clercq (Lotto-Soudal) are the newcomers.
Hilaire Van der Schueren: “Antonini and McNally are two riders who are always willing to do their job. Working in the chase or going in the breakaway can not be underestimated. As a result, their results are sometimes less, but their teammates can thus benefit from their work. ”
“On paper we are strengthened for 2018. Now it is up to the riders to deliver performances. With the signing of Bart De Clercq and Odd Christian Eiking we now form a solid team around our French climbing talent Guillaume Martin. With these riders I also hope to perform in the Ardennes classics, that was something we lacked in the past seasons. ”
“In 2017 Yoann Offredo has proven that he can perform in the big classics. Hopefully he can continue the good work in 2018. I also expect a lot from Frederik Backaert and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck in the cobbled classics. ”
“In the sprint we can count on the fast legs of Timothy Dupont and Andrea Pasqualon. Our new Walloon rider Boris Vallée will launch the sprint for them, but if one of them isn’t feeling good, Vallée can also take his own chances. “
Mark McNally: “In 2018 I want to continue my development. The last two years at team Wanty-Groupe Gobert I have come a long way with a lot of podium places and top tens.
“In 2018 I would like to make that next step and win a race or two. For the rest I want to keep working hard and take my chances when they arise.”
Team 2018
Simone Antonini, 26 (Italy)
Frederik Backaert, 27
Jérôme Baugnies, 30
Thomas Degand, 31
Tom Devriendt, 26
Fabien Doubey, 24 (France)
Wesley Kreder, 27 (Netherlands)
Guillaume Martin, 24 (France)
Mark McNally, 28 (Great Britain)
Xandro Meurisse, 25
Marco Minnaard, 28 (Netherlands)
Yoann Offredo, 31 (France)
Andrea Pasqualon, 29 (Italy)
Dion Smith, 24 (New-Zealand)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, 26
Pieter Vanspeybrouck, 30
Kevin Van Melsen, 30
Newcomers
Bart De Clercq, 31 (Lotto-Soudal)
Timothy Dupont, 30 (Crelan-Willems)
Odd Christian Eiking, 22 (Norway, FDJ)
Boris Vallée, 24 (Fortuneo-Oscaro)
Departing
Kenny Dehaes (WB-Veranclassic)
Guillaume Levarlet (Auber 93)
Robin Sténuit (?)
Danilo Napolitano (Stopped)
Frederik Veuchelen (Stopped)
