"I can still gain something in all areas" - Florian Vermeersch looking to show progress on UAE Team Emirates debut in Oman

After seven seasons with Lotto, Florian Vermeersch begins the 2025 season in new colours with a new team. The 25-year-old Belgian has signed for UAE Team Emirates - XRG on a two-year deal over the recent off-season, and after spending the winter training with his new teammates, Vermeersch is already seeing positive progress be made.

“It’s great, a new culture and environment. I feel welcome,” he says in quotes collected by Het Laatste Nieuws. “I think I can still gain something in all areas, to take a step. That can be done by training a little differently and shifting my focus a little, but the most important thing is to start the important matches as fit as possible. To then make the right decisions during the matches. That is crucial.”

Starting his season at the Tour of Oman, Vermeersch already has targets in his sights for the rest of the year, including both the Classics and the Grand Tours. "The Flemish classics are definitely on my programme,” he explains. “I still have to discuss it with the team management, but I would also like to ride a Grand Tour. If not the Tour de France, then the Giro d'Italia or Vuelta a Espana would be nice.”

In Oman, Vermeersch is likely to play a supporting role however, as team leader Adam Yates looks to defend the title he won back in 2024. "Obviously I’ve got great memories in Oman from what we did there last year. If we could repeat that it would be perfect but there will be competition no doubt," previewed Yates to the team's official website. "It’s a balanced team with Majka and Vine for the climbs and then some of the bigger guys for the flats and a chance too for the Gen Z guys to step-up and show themselves at this level. All-round I’m just keen to get things going and get racing.”