Marco Marcato has signed a contract for two seasons with the team Wanty - Groupe Gobert. For general manager Jean-François Bourlart, the arrival of the Italian 30-year is a serious boost for Gobert Wanty-Group.

"Marco is a very important rider for our team," Jean-François Bourlart said to the Wanty website. "He will share the leadership with Björn Leukemans in most Flandern classics. This duo, very complementary, has already shown their worth several times with Vacansoleil-DCM."

For Marcato it means a return to the land he likes: the cobbles of northern Europe.

"I cannot wait to start next season with Wanty - Groupe Gobert team will give me the opportunity to be the leader in the races I love, Paved North classics," said Marcato.

On the Vacansoleil-DCM team , Björn Leukemans and Marcato rode together for five seasons. In Wanty - Groupe Gobert, they met with the same team manager Hilaire Vanderschueren.

"I'm happy to be back in the same team as Björn and Hilary. We've known each other for so long. Besides, we are a good team during races," reacts Marcato.

"Marco will be there in the final monumental spring racing with 'Leuki." But it is not only a classics rider, "says Vanderschueren. "There will also be an ideal replacement for Jempy Drucker when it comes to prepare sprints with Roy Jans.

The biggest win of Marcato is Paris-Tours in 2012 The Italian has also won numerous awards in one day races. Marcato has no problems to slip into the skin of the crew if necessary.

"I can get a good result for myself but I can also help the team as I did for Peter Sagan at Cannondale. With my experience, I can help my teammates to achieve good results."

Although Marcato is used to be in teams of Northern Europe, there is something for which the Italian hardly get used.

"Your food is very different from that of Italy. This is the biggest difference between an Italian team and a Belgian team," he concluded with a grin.