Frederik Backaert will be part of Wanty-Groupe Gobert for the next two seasons. The 25-year old Belgian joined the team in 2014 and signed a new contract for 2016 and 2017.  

“I am happy with the confidence they have in me. In this team I can continue to develop myself as a rider," Backaert says about his new contract. "We have a fantastic race program with wildcards for all major WorldTour Spring classics. All races between Omloop and Paris-Roubaix suit me well." 
 
Sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren sees the progression Backaert has made in the last one and a half years. 
 
“He really improved and made a step forward. That is also what we need to do as a team. Next to the seven riders we already signed for next year, Frederik is an important addition. He is an allround rider who knows how to ride uphill in WorldTour races like Catalunya or Tour de Suisse for which we receive wildcards but he is also good on the cobbles." 
 
Backaert joined Wanty-Groupe Gobert in 2014 but saw his Spring campaign, of which he had expected much, ruined by illness. The rider who lives at the foot of the infamous Berendries climb, did show his qualities on the cobbles this season.
 
In Nokere Koerse and in Parijs-Roubaix he was at the front of the race untill the final. It resulted in a 25th place in his first Roubaix. In stage races like the Tour of Austria, Bayern Rundfahrt and the Three-Days De Panne-Koksijde he finished in the top 20 of the overall classification. 
 
“I want to improve my time trial skills and my positioning in the peloton in the years to come. I do believe that positioning and tactics will come when you become a better rider. The next two years I want to ride finals more. It does bring more pressure but in this team I get these chances," Backaert adds. 
 
“I am more and more convinced that as a procycling team we need to give these chances to young riders,” general manager Jean-François Bourlart concludes.
 
“Creating optimal working conditions for young, talented and hard-working riders is our goal for the upcoming seasons." 

Wanty-Groupe Gobert is a Belgian procontinental cycling team that finished second in the UCI Europe Tour ranking in 2014. For 2016 it has already signed the following eight riders: Marco Marcato (ITA), Simone Antonini (ITA), Frederik Backaert (BEL), Roy Jans (BEL), Jérôme Baugnies (BEL), Kévin Van Melsen (BEL), Lander Seynaeve (BEL) and Tom Devriendt (BEL).