Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (France) - Press Release: On Saturday 1st of July, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty will start its sixth Tour de France in Bilbao, in the Basque Country. In order to shine, the Walloon World Team selected a solid and experienced team, with three Tour de France stage winners and several former jersey wearers.

Selection:

Thanks to his seventh place in the edition of 2022, Louis Meintjes achieved the first top ten of the Walloon team in the final classification. The South-African rider, who already finished twice on eight place before (2016 and 2017), will for the third year in a row receive the support of Georg Zimmermann, winner of the sixth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné to Crest-Voland earlier this month. 

For his debut in the Tour de France, Biniam Girmay will lead the selection in the sprint stages. Just like in his victorious sprint in de Tour de Suisse, he can rely on the experience of Adrien Petit and former yellow jersey wearer and stage winner Mike Teunissen. Last named won in the Tour of Norway last month, his first victory since the Tour of 2019.

With Rui Costa and Lilian Calmejane, the selection contains two other stage winners. The former world champion won three stages in the Tour and will participate for the eleventh time. Calmejane, winner in 2017 on Station des Rousses and polkadot jersey wearer, will be at the start for the fifth time.

Finally, Dion Smith returns to the Tour for the first time since he entered history in 2018, by becoming the first rider of his country and of the team of Jean-François Bourlart to wear a distinctive jersey in the most prestigious race in the world. The New-Zealander offered himself the honour to wear the polkadot jersey during three days.

The sportive direction of the team is assured by Aike Visbeek, Steven De Neef, Laurenzo Lapage and Pieter Vanspeybrouck.