Mark McNally will join Wanty-Groupe Gobert next season. The 26-year old Englishman was part of the British continental outfit Madison Genesis this year and previously rode five seasons with An Post-Chain Reaction. McNally is the first British rider for Belgian procontinental team Wanty-Groupe Gobert.
“I am very excited, naturally,” the Liverpudlian smiles. “This is a step up. It was a long time coming and it’s a dream come true. This is my first pro contract and riding with a procontinental team enables me to ride WorldTour-level races. Flanders and Roubaix have always been a dream.”
The connection between Wanty-Groupe Gobert and Mark McNally went via Roger Hammond, team manager of Madison-Genesis.
“I know Roger very well. I have been his sports director for almost his entire career,” Hilaire Van Der Schueren explains. “He suggested Mark and I followed his racing in Belgium and the Tour of Britain. He knows the Flemish races well: won the Erpe-Mere kermesse, was third in GP Jef Scherens and tenth in a hard fought edition of GP Zottegem.”
McNally even speaks a little bit of Flemish because of his girlfriend Pia De Quint: rider for UCI women’s team Lares-Waowdeals.
“Belgian cycling suits me well. Fast races without long climbs where I hope to show my versatility: working for a sprinter, being in a breakaway or ride for a result myself. I like the life in Belgium, much more relaxed than the UK.”
McNally characterizes himself as self-disciplined, hardworking and willing to learn: someone who always tries his best and gives everything. His rider profile therefore fits Wanty-Groupe Gobert perfectly.
“I already showed that I am competitive in the Belgian races that Madison-Genesis did this August: one win, one podium and one top ten. Some riders on the Wanty-Groupe Gobert team I know already. Roy Jans and I were on An Post-Chain Reaction together. I expect I’ll adjust well and that we’ll have a great season together.”
McNally is the ninth new rider for Wanty-Groupe Gobert. Together with the already confirmed ten riders there are now 19 names of six different nationalities on the 2016 roster. The last riders for 2016 will be announced shortly.
- Simone Antonini (ITA)
- Frederik Backaert (BEL)
- Jérôme Baugnies (BEL)
- Gaëtan Bille (BEL)
- Dimitri Claeys (BEL)
- Thomas Degand (BEL)
- Kenny Dehaes (BEL)
- Antoine Demoitié (BEL)
- Tom Devriendt (BEL)
- Roy Jans (BEL)
- Marco Marcato (ITA)
- Guillaume Martin (FRA)
- Mark McNally (GBR)
- Marco Minnaard (NED)
- Lander Seynaeve (BEL)
- Robin Stenuit (BEL)
- Björn Thurau (GER)
- Kévin Van Melsen (BEL)
- Frederik Veuchelen (BEL)
20.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
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19.04 - 21.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
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Tom Van ASBROECK 34 years | today |
Imeh NSEK 26 years | today |
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Keisuke NAKAO 34 years | today |
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