"No agreement yet" however collaboration possible between Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux and Hagens Bermans Axeon
Cycling
It has been confirmed that there is a possibility that Intermarché - Wanty Gobert Matériaux and Hagens Bermans Axeon may collaborate in the near future. Now a World Tour team, with overwhelmingly positive results this season, it seeks a structure to form a development team - or collaboration with an existing one.
Not only did the Belgian team ask for a collaboration, Merckx confirmed that he also received an invitation to become a DS for Intermarché. "That's right. But there is no agreement yet. We had already sat at the table a few times and they insist to make something out of it." Merckx is the manager of the American team, which is widely agreed to be the single biggest development team in recent years from talents from all over the world.
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"They could place young riders with us to gain experience before they are ready to ride in the WorldTour. And vice versa," he added. In what way the deal could be done is not known, only some proposals and ideas are on the table for the time being.
As for the merge of both teams, which has also been proposed, is too far of a stretch for the Hagens Bermans squad: “...That can only happen if both teams merge and I don't see that happening any time soon. I want my team to continue to exist independently, I love this team wholeheartedly. I will therefore continue to work on what I am doing.
However, the son of Eddy Merckx does not deny that something may happen in the near future, as he claimed that "working together is certainly possible if it benefits both of us.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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First Grand Tour of the season ✅ On the road to the next, we have exciting races coming up in June 📅 Full race program ➡️intermarche-wantygobert.eu/upcoming-races/
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