Intermarché–Wanty has Meintjes plan ready for Giro d’Italia and sees race as turning point for two young talents

“Our eight-man selection for this Giro d’Italia has multiple focal points, each with specific objectives across different terrains,” said sporting manager Aike Visbeek. “Meintjes and Van der Hoorn have both proven their value to Intermarché–Wanty in previous grand tours. With Taco, we’ve already pinpointed the stages that are ideal for breakaways, right from the start in Albania.”

“With Louis, on the other hand, we’re focusing on the decisive stages in the final week,” Visbeek explained. “As a team, we need to support him as best we can and keep him in contention until we reach the Alps. Simone Petilli and Kevin Colleoni will play a crucial role in the mountains. By that point, we expect the GC standings to still be tightly packed. With confidence in his abilities, we’ll look for opportunities for Louis and wait patiently for his strong final week, which is usually when he performs at his best.”

"In addition, we are investing in the development of two young and fast riders, Gerben Thijssen and Francesco Busatto, for whom this Giro d’Italia could mark an important step in their careers," continued the Intermarché–Wanty team manager. "Gerben will be able to count on an experienced sprint train, including Gijs Van Hoecke and Dion Smith, to make the most of sprint opportunities," the Intermarché-Wanty leader continued. "He’s had a good buildup, and the extra experience he gained during his debut in the Tour de France, combined with calmness, could be key to success. Francesco Busatto, meanwhile, will be making his grand tour debut, and he’ll face plenty of finishes that should suit him well. This is a great opportunity for him to showcase the strong performances he delivered during the 2024 autumn classics at a higher level."

"The preparation for this Giro has been intense, both athletically and technically. Together with our coaches, we organized a high-altitude training camp in the Sierra Nevada. Our nutrition and apparel partners have supported us optimally to ensure we’re ready for all kinds of weather conditions. With our equipment partners, we also paid specific attention to the gravel stage, building on our success in Paris–Roubaix. This is possibly the most extensive preparation for a grand tour that we’ve ever done as a team, in close collaboration with our partners. We hope that this investment will pay off over the next three weeks," Visbeek concluded.

Team leader Louis Meintjes also shared his thoughts: “With a lot of motivation, I’m returning to the Giro for the first time since 2020. It’s a welcome change after several seasons focused primarily on the Tour de France. I adjusted my preparation accordingly, with a busier start to the season, and I feel that my form is steadily improving. I felt good during the Giro d’Abruzzo, apart from the bad weather in the queen stage.”

“After helping Georg Zimmermann secure the overall win there, I completed an intense altitude training camp with the team in Sierra Nevada. I feel well-prepared for my third Giro d’Italia. My previous experiences in the Giro weren’t very positive, as I wasn’t in top shape, but I’m determined to change that this year,” said Meintjes. “My goal is to be active at the front of the race in various stages by getting into breakaways, and possibly to perform well in the general classification. If the weather cooperates a bit, I believe I can compete for an honorable place in the GC.”

“The Giro and the Vuelta offer a different dynamic compared to the Tour,” Meintjes explained, “because fewer riders have a strictly defined role beforehand and take advantage of the opportunity to race more openly. That makes the race less predictable, which is interesting, but also makes it harder to get into breakaways. Aside from the racing itself, I’m looking forward to enjoying the diversity Italy has to offer and discovering the unique Grande Partenza in Albania, a region I’ve never been to before.”

Gerben Thijssen is also highly motivated to make the most of the opportunity. “My debut in the Giro d’Italia will be my first race on the Italian mainland since the U23 Giro in 2018. It brings back great memories. Back then, I finished second in the stage to Forlì and shortly after won the Belgian U23 national title. Those positive experiences give me extra motivation to finally take on the ‘real deal,’ especially after missing last year’s Giro debut due to my crash in Scheldeprijs. Winning a stage on debut, especially in one of the sprint finishes that suits me, would be a dream.”

“That would mark a significant step in my career,” said Thijssen, “toward the top of the international sprinting scene. I know I can count on experienced teammates. My lead-out man Gijs Van Hoecke, with whom I prepared for the Giro at a training camp in Spain, and Dion Smith, who recently won the Volta NXT Classic, along with Van der Hoorn and his powerful engine, will be crucial support in helping me realize my ambition of reaching the podium. Personally, I feel much stronger and more experienced since my Tour de France debut last summer. We’ve built on that over the winter to be even more physically prepared for the demanding conditions of a grand tour.”

Van der Hoorn is the only rider on the team who knows what it feels like to win a stage in the Giro. “My stage win in the 2021 Giro remains the absolute highlight of my career; it’s the result I’m most associated with,” he said. “Even though I don’t think about it every day, I’m often reminded of it, especially during team presentations. That makes it extra special. Winning a stage in a grand tour is something unique, and I’m proud to have done it. This is my first time returning, and with changes to the spring classics calendar in May, we saw an opportunity to add the Giro d’Italia to my race schedule. I’m happy about that, there are plenty of chances for attackers.”

“Some of the stages designed for breakaways look just a bit too hard for me on paper, like the gravel stage to Siena,” said the motivated Dutchman, “but that doesn’t mean I won’t try. I also have a clear idea of which stages I want to play a supporting role for our leaders, Thijssen and Meintjes. With our well-balanced team, we can play a role on all kinds of terrain. I’ve been able to prepare well, guided by my coach and our sports nutritionists, and I’m ready to show off the Intermarché–Wanty colors in the attack.”

Finally, Francesco Bussato: “My first Giro promises to be very special and exciting. As a child, I never missed a stage on TV. The atmosphere of the Giro is simply unique, and I can already picture the crowds along the roads. Stages 13 and 15 are particularly meaningful to me because they pass through my home region, where I’ve trained for years. I’m lucky to be part of an experienced team for my first Grand Tour. It’s a great group, and I’m looking forward to learning from my teammates. They’ve already emphasized how important it is to manage your energy wisely.”

"I’m going to focus on the stages where our team can shine, as well as the ones where I personally have a good chance," said the young Italian. "Dimitri Claeys and I have already identified the key stages I should target and others where I need to save energy. Our altitude training camp in the Sierra Nevada was perfect. It's a beautiful region with great company, which made the time fly by. Training went smoothly, I was able to stick to my coach Christophe Prémont’s plan, making sure not to overdo it at altitude. I feel ready to start the Giro in great shape."

Francesco Busatto
Kevin Colleoni
Louis Meintjes
Simone Petilli
Dion Smith
Gerben Thijssen
Taco van der Hoorn
Gijs Van Hoecke