"They all think they'll miss the new Pogacar or Remco" - Visma rider struggling to find a contract as young riders take the spots
Cycling
Julien Vermote is currently without a contract into the 2026 season and his task is being made more difficult due to the teams' pursuit of young riders and the 'next Evenepoel or Pogacar'. The Belgian in the meantime, with 15 seasons of racing at the top level and the motivation, is struggling to find his spot in the peloton despite the massive experience he has in his skillset.
"They all think they'll miss the new Pogacar or Remco otherwise. But there aren't fifty of them walking around like that," Vermote said in words to Het Nieuwsblad. "My age is a turn-off for some teams. Everything is measured in watts and heart rate zones. While you still win races with brains and gut feeling."
Vermote had already previously talked about this matter and how he didn't get a renewal at Visma, something understandable as it is one of the absolute best teams in the world and just making it into the '30' is a big challenge. However with his time in the Dutch team, as well as Quick-Step, Dimension Data, Cofidis and Alpecin-Deceuninck he has learnt a lot and is a valuable road captain to most teams.
His numbers potentially not as high as the potential of other up and coming riders, but he sees value within himself still in the modern peloton. "We don't ride races on rollers either. Yet sometimes it feels that way. You can keep that up for a few years, but at some point, something mentally jumps. Riders burn out before they even reach their peak. Race insight, choosing your position, avoiding panic — you don't learn that from TrainingPeaks".
I can still add value
Hence the 36-year old finds himself in a tricky position where most teams are close to finishing their lineup and aren't looking to sign more riders, with a few teams also either closing down or merging, lowering the amount of positions available at the top level teams.
"I feel I can still add value. I know how to protect someone or when to slow down. You can't download that. But when it comes to racing, reason and courage still trump the power meter," he argues. "Man is not a machine, and people seem to forget that. The race isn't a laboratory. You win with heart, not with an algorithm."
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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
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