Brothers Danny and Boy Van Poppel will be reunited, as from 2020, in the Wanty-Gobert colours. The brothers rode together for three years, after their start in the World Tour in 2013 in the Vacansoleil-DCM team, under the direction of Hilaire Van der Schueren. Their paths went separate ways after one year with Vacansoleil-DCM and two years with Trek. While Boy stayed with Trek until moving to Roompot last summer, Danny switched to Sky and later Jumbo-Visma. The Dutch riders have chosen to integrate in the same team, for the next two seasons, by reinforcing Wanty-Gobert.
The junior, Danny, 26 years old, took victories in Halle-Ingooigem, Binche-Chimay-Binche and stage wins in the Vuelta and the tours of Wallonia, Poland, Burgos, Luxembourg and the Arctic Race. He finished 5th in Ghent-Wevelgem and 7th in Dwars door Vlaanderen this year.
Boy Van Poppel, 31 years old, is also a fast rider. He took a 4th place in Nokere Koerse and a 5th place in the Tour of Limburg this year. He also came close to the victory in the Tour de Yorkshire (2nd and 4th) this season.
The two inhabitantes of Poppel are linked to the Belgian formation until the end of 2021.
Danny Van Poppel:
« I’m very happy to join Wanty-Gobert. This offers me new opportunities, together with my brother! The older we get, the more we realize how special it is to have the chance to form a good duo. Hilaire Van der Schueren believes in me for several years already, and in our tandem, both in good and bad times. It’s good to join this Belgian team. »
« I cannot wait to be with Wanty-Gobert next year, after the abiding interest and the good memories with Vacansoleil-DCM. For me personally, pleasure is most important, but I’m also very ambitious. I want to battle for every opportunity, and this together with a new Wanty-Gobert sprint train. And why not at the Tour de France? »
Boy Van Poppel:
« Wanty-Gobert is a growing team, so it is a challenge to join them for the next two seasons. For some time we wanted to be reunited in the same colours. It is special to battle, in the race, for the positioning in the sprint. I’ll meet several known faces of riders and staff, apart from my brother, within Wanty-Gobert, because of my time with Vacansoleil-DCM. »
« It’s an advantage to work together among siblings. It’s always easier to create automatisms, and there’s an extra motivation to give all I have. I’m looking forward to work for the team again, after this season during which I had the opportunity to play my own cards and collect some places of honour. The best is yet to come! »
Hilaire Van der Schueren:
« I already directed both brothers within Vacansoleil-DCM in 2013, but unfortunately the team didn’t continue and I had to let them go. Since then, I always kept an eye on Danny and finally he is joining our team next year. I’m looking forward to it, because I know their capabilities and I can work well together with them. We’ll have a happy marriage! »
« Danny has the ability to achieve podium spots in the classics, with his elder brother as a guide, and their friend Wesley Kreder. The arrival of a new sprinter, next to Timothy Dupont, Alfdan De Decker and Andrea Pasqualon delights us and will permit us to score on different fronts at the same time. »
