"Every year we learn from mistakes made" - Israel - Premier Tech going from strength to strength in 2024 with breakthrough performances from next generation

The 2024 Tour de France is looming and one of the teams heading into the next edition of the Grand Tour full of confidence will be Israel - Premier Tech. Thanks to breakthrough performances this year by the likes of Matthew Riccitello, Stephen Williams and Derek Gee, the team's next generation is shining through.

"It's because of the knowledge within the squad, where every year we learn from mistakes made or certain developments," explains Israel - Premier Tech sports director and former Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner in his own right, Sep Vanmarcke, in conversation with In de Leiderstrui. "At the end of the day, they have got that very right at the team now: it was like that at the beginning of the year, but again now. They have come back very well from Isola 2000 and that is going very well."

The year started strongly for the team, with Stephen Williams taking overall victory at the Tour Down Under. The Welshman has since also added a triumph at La Fleche Wallonne to his palmares as well this spring. "That's hugely significant, such an achievement," Vanmarcke says of Williams' breakthrough in 2024. "We are already having a very good season, but the entire team is still looking forward to it. Everyone will then make an extra effort."

With the more recent showings of Derek Gee at the Criterium du Dauphine and Matthew Riccitello at the Tour de Suisse, the future looks bright for Israel - Premier Tech. Is the upcoming Tour de France a little too early though? "We are not worried that Derek might drop off a bit as you sometimes see after a good Dauphiné, because a classification is not his goal," Vanmarcke says of the Canadian who finished on the podium at the traditional Tour de France prelude.

"We want to win a stage with him and that is the first goal. I do see it happening as happens with every team: just start in that classification and see how far you get. But the advantage is that nothing has to happen, because it's only his first Tour de France," the sports director concludes. "The Giro last year was fantastic. Then he actually only got better as the race progressed, which you saw again now in the Dauphiné. He has a great engine and I see him delivering some nice performances in July as well."