Wanty-Groupe Gobert have continued the process of strengthening their classics roster. Today the team have announced the signing of Enrico Gasparotto who will join forces with Marco Marcato and Bjorn Leukemans in the spring races.

Wanty-Groupe Gobert reinforces its 2015 team with Enrico Gasparotto. The 2012 Amstel Gold Race winner will be a team captain in the Ardennes Classics as well as the Amstel Gold Race.

“I really love one-day races,” Gasparotto says from his home in Lugano, Switzerland. “You only have one chance on the day and you really need to use your head! That suits me well as a rider. I will do my utmost to be at my best in those two weeks in April.”

Gasparotto turned pro in 2005 with Liquigas. After a three-year stay with the Italian team he moved to Barloworld to become a teammate of Chris Froome for a year. After a short stint at Lampre, he joined Astana for a five-season stay. The Italian took his biggest victory in the Kazach team colours by winning the Amstel Gold Race in 2012. He also came third in Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the same year.

Besides the Classics in the Ardennes and the south of the Netherlands, the 32-year old dreams of the Flemish Classics. “I really look forward to the Tour of Flanders and the weeks before that. Belgium is crazy about cycling. To be part of a Belgian team and work for riders like Björn Leukemans and Marco Marcato in those races seems fantastic.”

To general manager Jean-François Bourlart the signing of Gasparotto is an important step forward for Wanty-Groupe Gobert. “Enrico is capable of excelling in the Ardennes Classics and in the WorldTour-race in general. He showed this on many occasions in the past. I am happy to sign a rider of his level and hope that organizers of WorldTour events do take this into account when distributing wildcards.”

To sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren the signing of Gasparotto shows the team is growing up. “To see Gasparotto sign for Wanty-Groupe Gobert shows that we are growing up as a team. He will be an important rider during the Spring campaign but his experience will be vital throughout the year for young guys like Yannick Eijssen, Marco Minnaard and Frederik Backaert. His arrival also underlines our ambition to ride a Grand Tour this season.”

For Gasparotto one of the advantages of riding with the Wanty-Groupe Gobert team in 2015 is that he can share his experiences with young riders.

“For a team like Astana, riding and winning Grand Tours is the main focus. Young riders are looking towards Nibali and others like Aru and Fuglsang. I love my sport and would like to teach my young, future teammates everything that is good about this sport. To me that is an important thing and with Wanty-Groupe Gobert I have the opportunity to do so!”

Enrico Gasparotto is Wanty-Groupe Gobert’s fifth Italian for 2015. Others who already signed or extended their contract with the team are Marco Marcato, Simone Antonini, Mirko Selvaggi and Danilo Napolitano.