Riccardo Minali will be the fourth Italian rider within Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux. The 25 year old started his professional career with Astana, before moving to Israel Cycling Academy and Nippo Delko One Provence, before returning to the World Tour in the Belgian team in 2021. The sprinter from Verona started his season well with podium finishes in Gabon and in Langkawi. Since 2018, he has two stages in this Tour of Langkawi on his palmares. At the end of the season at the Tour of Portugal, the son of multiple Grand Tour stage winner Nicolas Minali added more podiums. Riccardo Minali signed a contract until the end of 2021.

Riccardo Minali:
« I couldn’t imagine a better Christmas present! 2020 was complicated for me, with the lockdown and roller training in the spring, and then the uncertainty about my professional career at the end of the year. But in the end, the year finishes on a very positive note, it’s incredible! I’m very happy to wear the jersey of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux in a couple of days. After a good education within Astana, the year 2020 made me stronger mentally. I’m looking forward to return to the highest level, I want to show my qualities to my new team. I’m eager to win races in the colors of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériau! And as an Italian rider, I’m dreaming of the Giro d’Italia and Milano-San Remo… »

Aike Visbeek (Performance Manager):
« We wanted to complete our team of fast riders, with a sprinter with a good top speed and World Tour experience. Riccardo has a past on the track, and a nice palmares on the road. In the fast sprints, he’s able to win races if the team supports him well. The Italian rider is in the pro ranks for four years already, from which two in the World Tour, and his young age offers nice progression perspectives. »