Wanty-Groupe Gobert and local team Roth will take the start in Tour de Romandie this April.

It's the tenth WorldTour wildcard the Belgian pro continental team received for this season.  

“This is another step in the development of the team," sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren says.

“We already offer our riders a fantastic Spring Classics' program but adding premium stage races like Volta a Catalunya, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphiné means we also have a great program in stage races. It's a wonderful opportunity for riders like Guillaume Martin, Thomas Degand, Roy Jans and Marco Minnaard to gain (further) experience in races of the highest level. There is one step left to take and that is an invitation to a Grand Tour."

The wildcards for the Giro d'Italia have been announced but invitations to the Tour de France and Vuelta a España will be announced shortly. 

Enrico Gasparotto is one of Wanty-Groupe Gobert's most experienced riders. He rode the Tour de Romandie many times himself and sees options for himself to get a good result and for the younger riders to develop themselves. 

“In Romandie you see riders preparing for the Giro d'Italia and you see riders, like me, who just finished the Ardennes Classics and ride on for one more week," Gasparotto explains. 

“Personally I love Tour de Romandie because it offers really hard stages but also opportunities for myself. When things are not going to plan in the Ardennes it's a chance to redeem myself. If Ardennes are going really well I take that form into the Tour de Romandie. Furthermore it's a wonderful opportunity for our younger riders to ride with Grand Tour winners like Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali or Nairo Quintana.”