Intermarché-Circus-Wanty: Girmay, Teunissen, and Meintjes had hoped for more after a superb 2022

The 2023 cycling year is over, and so at IDLProCycling.com, we take an extensive look at the latest cycling season. This time, the focus is on Intermarché-Circus-Wanty. After an unprecedentedly good 2022 for the relatively modest Belgian WorldTour team, high expectations had been set for this year. It didn't go as well as the previous year, but does that make 2023 a failed season?

In 2022, a new star burst onto the scene: young Eritrean Biniam Girmay. He won the classic Gent-Wevelgem in a sprint from a small group. This huge surprise was further enhanced by Alexander Kristoff's victory, who claimed the Scheldeprijs for his Belgian team. This season, Girmay failed to confirm his fast-growing status, while Kristoff had left.

Girmay did not make a significant impact in the most important races for him. He finished just inside the top 100 at Gent-Wevelgem, dropped out of the Tour of Flanders, and his best result was 28th at Milan-San Remo. Rui Costa still managed to place fourth in Strade Bianche, and Gerben Thijssen triumphed in the Bredene Koksijde Classic by leaving a bunch of impressive names behind in the sprint. Thijssen also triumphed in the Tour of Limburg. However, the men in white-blue-yellow undoubtedly counted on more in the spring.

In stage races too, Intermarché could hardly do better than in 2022. Jan Hirt finished sixth in the Giro and won a stage, while Girmay also claimed a stage win in Italy after a sprint against Mathieu van der Poel. Louis Meintjes excelled in the Tour where he finished eighth. In the Vuelta, the South African also won a tough mountain stage. In this context, 2023 was a disappointing season.

A top ten finish in a grand tour was not in the cards this year for the Belgian team. Girmay debuted in the Tour de France and sprinted to a few honorable places, though he was almost always outpaced by sprint sensation Jasper Philipsen. In the Vuelta, there was a notable win. Rui Costa won the fifteenth stage to Lekuberri after an exciting breakaway, including Remco Evenepoel.

In the smaller tours, the team had more minor successes. Georg Zimmermann, also aggressive in the Tour, was responsible for winning a mountain stage in the Dauphiné, and Girmay won a sprint in the Tour de Suisse. Mike Teunissen won a stage in the Renewi Tour. Additionally, several stage wins were secured in races outside the WorldTour. Niccolo Bonifazio won a stage in the Tour of Sicily, Teunissen celebrated in Norway, and Girmay and Costa won early in 2023 stages in the Tour of Valencia. These results are not bad but are overshadowed by the major victories Intermarché achieved in 2022.

All in all, the 2023 season did not deliver what Intermarché might have hoped for. Yet, the (former) editorial team members give them a pass grade: 5.9. 2023 appears to be a transitional year. Next season, the team's leaders will be aiming for more!

For Intermarché, the focus for the upcoming season is on the performances of Francesco Busatto, Roel van Sintmaartensdijk, and Alexy Faure-Prost. They are coming from the team's development squad. Additionally, two young riders, Kevin Colleoni and Vito Braet, have been recruited.

This is offset by the departure of Rui Costa, a significant loss for the team. At the age of 36, the Portuguese revitalized in 2023 and saw his strong year rewarded with a transfer to EF Education EasyPost. Some veterans are also moving to other teams, such as Loic Vliegen and Aimé De Gendt. The Belgian team also loses Niccolo Bonifazio to the small Italian team Corratec Selle Italia after just one year.

Incoming: Francesco Busatto, Roel van Sintmaartensdijk, Alexy Faure-Prost (all Circus-ReUz-Technord), Kevin Colleoni (Team Jayco AlUla), Vito Braet (Team Flanders Baloise)

Outgoing: Loic Vliegen (Bingoal WB), Laurens Huys (ARKEA-B&B Hotels), Aimé de Gendt (Cofidis), Rui Costa (EF Education-EasyPost), Sven Erik Bystrom (Groupama-FDJ), Niccolo Bonifazio (Corratec Selle Italia)

After the successful year of 2022, Intermarché couldn't completely continue the momentum. However, many of the riders who achieved success in 2022 will also be with the Belgian team next year. It will be interesting to see how Girmay continues to develop. With a big win in the spring, the still very young sprinter might again be a contender in the (selective) sprints of stage races.

Additionally, it's worth watching Meintjes. The South African dropped out of the Tour and also missed his beloved Vuelta. Normally, Meintjes is good for a top ten finish in a grand tour and has also shown he can go for stage wins. So keep an eye on this small climber! Zimmermann will also want to make strides in the high mountains. The 26-year-old German might surprise with several victories next season.

Moreover, watch out for riders like Rein Taaramae, who had a lesser year but has been important for the team in the past. The Dutchmen Mike Teunissen and Taco van der Hoorn, who had a year marred by an unpleasant concussion, will also aim for victories in classics and suitable stages in tours. Additionally, there is new talent coming from Intermarché's development team, which will undergo a clear rejuvenation towards 2024. Plenty to look forward to!

1. Vito Braet

2. Francesco Busatto

3. Lilian Calmejane

4. Kevin Colleoni

5. Dries de Pooter

6. Alexy Faure-Prost

7. Biniam Girmay

8. Kobe Goossens

9. Rune Herregodts

10. Arne Marit

11. Louis Meintjes

12. Madis Mihkels

13. Hugo Page

14. Tom Piquot

15. Simone Pettili

16. Adrien Petit

17. Baptitse Planckaert

18. Laurenz Rex

19. Lorenzo Rota

20. Dion Smith

21. Rein Taaramae

22. Mike Teunissen

23. Gerben Thijssen

24. Taco van der Hoorn

25. Boy van Poppel

26. Roel van Sintmaartensdijk

27. Georg Zimmermann