Dion Smith returns to Intermarché-Wanty Gobert

(Belga) Having already worn the team colors in 2017 and 2018 when he was not yet the world team, New Zealander Dionne Smith, 29, will return next season to Intermarche and Ante Joubert Matero. It was announced on Wednesday that he has signed a two-year contract with the Walloon World team. He was playing for two seasons at BikeExchange-Jayco after two years with his predecessor Mitchelton Scott.

The polka-dot jersey holder in the 2018 Tour de France for three days, became the first New Zealander to wear a signature jersey on the Tour, and remains to this day the only Intermarché-Wanty Gobert rider to have accomplished such a performance. “When I joined the peloton world tour in 2019, my farewell to Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux was the final ever,” said Smith, who had just one career win at the Saptini Cup in 2020. Since then, after four seasons in the same environment, it’s time to get my enthusiasm back by returning to my old staircase, and in collaboration with the Performance Unit, we’ve discussed the team’s ambitions and the role I can play in it. I had hoped to benefit from a program compatible with my abilities, and the proposal that was given to me fully met my expectations. My participation in the Tour de France (2017 and 2018, editor’s note) will forever be etched in my memory. It would be a dream to be able to go back there under the shirt of the Intermarché-Wanty Gobert Matériaux in the coming years.” (Belga)