This page focuses on the Intermarché – Circus – Wanty 2023 Team.
As the cycling racing season goes I will keep reviewing each rider’s bike size and specification.
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2023 Grands Tours Ambitions
The Intermarché – Circus – Wanty cycling team had a tremendous 2022 racing season with the revelation of Biniam Girmay to the general public.
Collectively, the team had an impressive 2022 season, and 2023 is a test of its ability to keep the winning recipe.
For 2023, 12 riders left the team and were replaced by 11 newcomers including Mike Teunissen (ex-Jumbo-Visma 2022), Lilian Calmejane (ex-AG2R Citroen 2022), Rui Costa (ex-UAE Team Emirates 2022), and Niccolo Bonifazio (ex-TotalEnergies 2022) who are strengthening the team further.
Looking at the composition of the Intermarché – Circus – Wanty 2023 Team, it is clear the team is strongly oriented toward Spring Classics and is racing the entire UCI WorldTour calendar including the three Grand Tours.
TEUNISSEN Mike, PLANCKAERT Baptiste, REX Laurenz, MIHKELS Madis, THIJSSEN Gerben, JOHANSEN Julius, and DE POOTER Driesy are riding the Paris-Roubaix 2023.
ROTA Lorenzo, BYSTRØM Sven Erik, BONIFAZIO Niccolò, HUYS Laurens, MARIT Arne, PETILLI Simone, REX Laurenz, and TAARAMÄE Rein ride the Giro d’Italia 2023.
Louis Meintjes, Biniam Girmay, Lilian Calmejane, Adrien Petit, Kobe Goosens, Loïc Vliegen, and Mike Teunissen are racing the Tour de France 2023. The team aim for a top 5 on the General Classification for Louis Meintjes, and some stages win with Biniam Girmay.
Like other pro teams, the definitive rider selection for the Vuelta a Espana 2023 will be made after the Tour de France.
Winning On Cube Bikes
As in the previous seasons, the team Intermarché – Circus – Wanty rides Cube bikes in 2023.
The two main road bikes of the team are the revamped Cube Litening Aero C68X TE and Cube Litening Air C68X TE (TE for Team Edition).
The bike set-up is the same as the 2022 season.
The gears and brakes are the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9200 with CeramicSpeed ceramic bearings in the bottom bracket, headset, and oversized jockey wheels on the rear derailleur cage.
The cranksets are the Rotor ALDHU carbon models with the INspider Power meter.
The Newmen Advanced SL R.42 carbon wheels spin on the CeramicSpeed bearings and Continental tubular and tubeless tires.
The rims’ height and tire type, and sizes vary on each rider’s preference and the type of race.
Typically tubeless are in use on flat and fast-rolling hills and tubular tires on mountain stages, and some spring classics like the Paris-Roubaix.
Flower Power Marginal Gain
The tubeless Continental GP 5000 S TR tires are mounted with Effetto Mariposa Caffélatex strips, valves & tire sealant.
The chain is waxed with Effetto Mariposa Flowerpower Wax.
I also use the Effetto Mariposa Degreaser and Flowerpower max on my bike.
It is efficient for riding on my hot and rainy tropical island. I like how the wax keeps my chain clean and rolls smoothly whatever the weather.
This claim is not a sponsor message, and therefore it is my honest experience with Effetto Mariposa chain wax, and I am not getting compensation for it.
The riders’ three touch points are the Cube handlebar/stem combo with Prologo bar tape, Prologo saddle, and Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic pedals.
It is the only team in the WorldTour to use the Bryton cycling computer.
The riders of team Intermarché – Circus – Wanty wear Uvex Race 9 and Uvex Rise helmets, Uvex sunglasses, Nalini cycling jerseys, bib-shorts, and socks, Prologo gloves.
It is one of the few teams in the WorldTour to have cycling shoes sponsored.
The main reason why most teams are not cycling shoes sponsored is because it is complicated to have the same brand of shoe able to fit the whole 30 or so riders.
Only a few cycling shoe brands have a wide range of shoes that can a wide range of feet shapes.
Gaerne, the Italian shoe maker is one of the few cycling shoe companies able to fit the whole variation of feet of the team Intermarché – Circus – Wanty.
Intermarché – Circus – Wanty 2023 Team Roster
BONIFAZIO Niccolò (1m76)
BYSTRØM Sven Erik (1m89)
CALMEJANE Lilian (1m84)
COSTA Rui (1m83)
DE GENDT Aimé (1m82)
DE POOTER Dries (1m81)
GIRMAY Biniam (1m84)
GOOSSENS Kobe (1m78)
HERREGODTS Rune (1m81)
HUYS Laurens (1m62)
JOHANSEN Julius (1m88)
MARIT Arne (1m85)
MEINTJES Louis (1m73)
MIHKELS Madis (?)
PAGE Hugo (1m85)
PAQUOT Tom (1m84)
PETILLI Simone (1m78)
PETIT Adrien (1m88)
PLANCKAERT Baptiste (1m76)
REX Laurenz (1m93)
ROTA Lorenzo (1m72)
SMITH Dion (1m79)
TAARAMÄE Rein (1m85)
TEUNISSEN Mike (1m84)
THIJSSEN Gerben (1m74)
VAN DER HOORN Taco (1m87)
VAN POPPEL Boy (1m86)
VLIEGEN Loïc (1m84)
ZIMMERMANN Georg (1m80)
Message me on my Instagram if you have any comments regarding the Intermarché – Circus – Wanty 2023 Team and their Cube bikes.
You might be also want to read about Intermarché – WantyGobert 2022 Cycling Team.
