Wanty-Groupe Gobert has signed a new rider : Xandro Meurisse. He was a stagiaire this season and he signs a two-year contract.

"I feel relieved. I finally become a professional rider. I'm so happy. I'm looking forward to the next season", Xandro Meurisse said. 
   
In the start of the season Xandro Meurisse rode for Crelan-Vastgoedservice. He won his first professional race : the queen stage in the Four Days of Dunkirk.

"I came back to Belgium in order to show my real potential. I've been feeling good since the start of the season. I started with a fifth place in the general classification of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen. I think I deserve my place in the professional peloton."

Next year he hopes to ride the Walloon classics.

"In 2017 I would like to test myself in races such as the Amstel Gold Race or Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I also like the stage races. I think I can help our climber Guillaume Martin in the mountains."

Team manager Jean-François Bourlart is convinced of Xandro Meurisse's potential.

"Xandro Meurisse prepared his traineeship very well. He proved that he can compete with the professional riders. He becomes an important rider of our team in the future."

At the moment Xandro Meurisses rides the Tour of Britain. He currently leads the mountains classification with four days to go and he is sixth in the general classification.