We are very delighted to announce that Dries de Pooter will join Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert as a trainee for the remainder of the season. “I’m very happy with the opportunity! It is a dream come true to get a chance at the WorldTour. The fact that I can do that as an 18-year old it is something to be proud of. I am really excited about the development side of things, I can learn lot a there and that will surely help me to perform well at the U23 category later on. I want to learn as much as possible from everybody involved in the team” highlights De Pooter. 

Despite being part of the Academy for just one season, the 18-year old Belgian scored solid results in Nations Cup’s Course de la Paix, where he rode fourth and sixth. He also showed a glimpse of his big potential in the mythical Planche des Belles Filles, in which he rode to ninth in the day. “The developing environment that I have found in the SEG Racing Academy has helped me a lot over this past year. I could some of the biggest races in the U23 calendar and have the first taste of racing against the pros. Looking back, I can say that joining the team was the best and right call”. 

Sven Jonker, SEG Racing Academy Director:
“When Dries joined us at the start of the season we immediately found out that we got ourselves an exceptional talent and personality in the team. It’s great that a WorldTeam like Intermarché-Wanty Gobert recognized the same in the races Dries did with the Academy so far in 2021. We are proud that Dries can already become stagiaire while still being in his first year as a U23 rider, and for sure we as the SEG Racing Academy will keep giving him all the support he needs to succeed as a professional rider in the near future.”

Eelco Berkhout, UCI Registrated Agent & SEG Cycling Director: 
“Dries (de Pooter) is part of a new generation that adapts very easily to the next level. So when the opportunity arose to become a trainee at Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert we directly saw this as an important stepping stone in his development. Without any pressure Dries can learn and look around at the highest level in pro cycling. We think this experience will bring him a lot later on in his career”