A new project will appear in cyclocross, this winter. As of January 1st 2020, Tormans CX Team by Wanty-Gobert will line up in cyclocross with Quinten Hermans and Corné Van Kessel. After participations of Xandro Meurisse and Fabien Doubey in several races last winter, the cyclocross section of Wanty-Gobert changes to a big gear.
Af of January 1st, a new team, sponsored by Tormans Group, but managed by the Want You Cyling structure which already administers the road team Wanty-Gobert, welcomes two out of the ten best cyclocross riders in the world. Quinten Hermans and Corné Van Kessel will ride in the Tormans CX Team colours in winter and in the Wanty-Gobert colours on the road in summer for the three next years, as they signed a contract until the end of 2022.
This project became possible thanks to Hans Van Kasteren. The Dutch man, ex-manager of Telenet-Fidea, succeeded the alchemy between cyclocross, the discipline he kept following from nearby as agent of Quinten Hermans and Corné Van Kessel, and road with Wanty-Gobert.
The 24-year-old, double U23 European champion, Quinten Hermans, is in the United States for the opening of the UCI World Cup. Hermans, 7th in the last World Championships, is 7th in the current individual UCI world ranking. Last summer, he won the fourth stage of the Tour of Wallonia, before finishing 2nd in the general classification. In 2019, he won three stages and the general classification of the Flèche du Sud and finished 3rd in Dwars door het Hageland.
Corné Van Kessel, 28, is currently 8th in the individual UCI world ranking. The Dutch rider finished five times within the top 5 in the World Cup races last winter and took the bronze medal at the Dutch championships. On the road, he finished 3rd at the IWT Oetingen and 4th at the Heistse Pijl in 2017. This year, he took the 11th place at Dwars door het Hageland.
Tormans was founded in 1999 by Jan Tormans and became one of the main players in projectsourcing and selection and recruitment. The company, which celebrates its twentieth birthday this year, is specialized in technical and engineering profiles. The company had its roots in the Campine region, in Geel, where the main office is located. Since the addition of offices in Evergem and Mechelen, Tormans, aiming for further expansion in Belgium and abroad, has now three locations.
Although it is still a family company, more than 400 highly qualified employees and consultants work in for more than 150 companies. Tormans won several prizes, among which the Trends Gazelle and Springbok Awards. By sponsoring the Tormans CX team, Tormans wants to increase brand recognition in Belgium and abroad.
Want You Cycling is the structure administrated by Jean-François Bourlart, which supervises the Professional Continental cycling team Wanty-Gobert. Wanty-Gobert participated three times in the Tour de France, with a final 12th place on the Champs-Elysées for Guillaume Martin last July. This season, the team won eight road races.
We're very proud to start this new challenge in cyclocross. The idea was running through our minds for a couple of years, but we wanted to realize a project of a certain level. It all becomes possible thanks to the arrival of a new partner and two of the best riders in the world, which is fantastic. We want Tormans CX Team to become a reference in cyclocross the next couple of years and to develop an interesting project around Wanty-Gobert which combines road and cyclocross.
« Since the end of the Palmans team more than a decade ago, cyclocross made me nostalgic. I'm happy to get the opportunity to return to this other branch of cycling thanks to the new project of Want You Cycling. Quinten Hermans and Corné Van Kessel are very good cyclocross riders, with a great potential on the road. This project will allow them to further develop thanks to a good road programme. I'm looking forward to appear in cyclocross again and to mentor these talents behind the scenes! »
« I'm thinking about this project for seven years already, because I have a true passion for cyclocross! The visibility during the races is grandiose, and the atmosphere is optimal. We wanted to start a cyclocross team with Hans Van Kasteren. It's become a reality! There's no doubt about succeeding with Quinten and Corné. Thanks to joining Wanty-Gobert, there's an supplementary element to succeed! »
« I promised Quinten and Corné a project which allowed them to progress both on the road and in cyclocross. I had the idea to start a new team, but finally we found much better with the integration within Wanty-Gobert. They will defend the Tormans Group colours in winter, in cyclocross, and participate in the biggest road races with Wanty-Gobert. »
« The new Tormans CX by Wanty-Gobert project is a godsend for me. At this young age, I need a long term vision and I'm very happy with the confidence Tormans CX gives me to build my career together for the next three years. I'm very ambitious to do more work on the road, but not at the expense of the cyclocross season, which is the intent of my future team! Corné and me will get a full support both on the road and in the field. We've been teammates for years and we are looking forward to be a part of this very cohesive group of riders and staff at Wanty-Gobert. I'm waiting impatiently to start my first road season on a higher level, but first of all I want to complete a good cyclocross season! »
« I'm very happy with this new step in my career, to be able to optimally combine cyclocross and road racing. I want to achieve regular performances this winter, and show my best form in January for the championships and my first races in the new Tormans CX colours. In cyclocross I will benefit from a good road programme with Wanty-Gobert. I'll have a role to play in helping my new teammates to succes. I'm motivated to bring colour to this new project! »
