Wanty-Groupe Gobert took part in the last stage race on European soil this season: the Tour de l'Eurométropole (2.1). For this 75th edition sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren lined up the following riders: Tim De Troyer, Tom Devriendt, Simone Antonini, Danilo Napolitano, Bjorn Leukemans, Kevin Van Melsen, Jérôme Baugnies and Robin Stenuit. 

Straight from the start, in the prologue, the ambitions for a good general classification went up in smoke. Wanty-Groupe Gobert’s best rider (Jérôme Baugnies) came in 62nd at one minute from stage winner Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale).

However, the ambitions of the team remained being in the breakaway and ride for good stage results in this race in Belgium.

In the first stage Simone Antonini obtained one of those goals by being in the breakaway. In the subsequent bunch sprint Danilo Napolitano finished 11th. The next day he rode to place 8 and in the penultimate stage to 16th.

In the final stage on Sunday between Mons and Tournoi first year pro Tom Devriendt sprinted to fifth. It was the best result of the week for Wanty-Groupe Gobert.

“I am disappointed though,’ the rider from West-Flanders said. “In the last turn I was in 20th position. If you see how far I can come back I am sure a better result than fifth would have been a possibility. I have shown that I made a lot of progression this year. That’s something I take home from this race,” Devriendt concluded. 

In the final overall classification the first rider for Wanty-Groupe Gobert could be found at place 43. Jérôme Baugnies finished at 1,04 minutes from race winner Alexis Gougeard.

Sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren looked forward to the immediate future with races this week but also to next year.

"This week we used to test how to ride and how to sprint in the upcoming races and in the upcoming season. I have seen interesting things. Tom Devriendt showed on Sunday he is capable of winning bunch sprints in the near future. He is an interesting rider for the future.”