OFFICIAL: Q36.5 Pro Cycling secure a crucial domestique for Tom Pidcock's Classics ambitions

Q36.5 Pro Cycling continue to add the much needed depth to their team with view of the 2026 season. After the introductions of Chris Harper, Fred Wright and Eddie Dunbar, fourth new name to strengthen the Swiss team's roster from next year will be Xandro Meurisse.

The experienced Belgian doesn't win races all that often, but is reliable in the hardest one-day races on the calendar, as evidence by his 10th place at Clasica San Sebastian this year, and another 10th place at Il Lombardia last autumn. Tom Pidcock could certainly make a use of such vital helper. The 33-year-old Meurisse joins Q36.5 on a two-year contract.

"I have followed the team since 2023 when it started because my good friend Tom Devriendt was part of it," Meurisse says in a press release. "He has always been very positive about the set-up and from the outside it looks professional and generally very good."

The Belgian also looks forward to race alongside the team's main star Pidcock. "In Tom Pidcock they have a fantastic leader. I can’t wait to experience the team from the inside from next year. It’s my first non-Belgian team so that’s something new to be excited about."

Meurisse had a tricky path to professional peloton and despite two try-outs in Lotto Belisol (2014) and Wanty - Groupe Gobert (2016) only made his professional debut in 2017. Meurisse stayed loyal to the Belgian formation for four seasons and in 2019 came extremely close to the greatest victory of his career when he finished 3rd in sixth stage of Tour de France with finish on La Planche des Belles Filles.

But Meurisse can do more than just climb, as evidenced by his successes at the Veneto Classics and 15th place at 2020 Tour of Flanders. After five years of mostly freedom in the harder races, Meurisse will now find a brand new role for himself at Q36.5 Pro Cycling next year.