UAE sign talented young American classics specialist - "I’m really looking forward to learning from the best in the world"

Only 24 hours after announcing the signing of 19-year old Adria Pericas, UAE Team Emirates - XRG have revealed their second signing of this transfer season: Team Picnic PostNL's Kevin Vermaerke.

"We are very pleased to welcome Kevin to our team," team CEO Mauro Gianetti said in a press release. "He’s a young, versatile rider and has already shown he can compete at the highest level. We believe he can continue to grow in our environment and become an important part of our team structure, both in stage races and the one-day calendar.”

The 24-year old rider currently races with Team Picnic PostNL, where he has been since turning pro back in 2021. Over the years he has shown his talent as a puncheur, a rider capable of performing in the races with small climbs - having impressed thoroughly at the 2023 World Championships in Glasgow where he rode alongside the best deep into the race. However despite the many promising results the American has not yet been able to take his first pro win and in 2025 he hasn't raced a Grand Tour thus far - whilst it is quite unlikely that he will be present at La Vuelta, taking into consideration he is currently scheduled to race the Deutschland Tour in colliding dates.

From 2026 onwards he becomes a UAE Team Emirates rider, having signed a two-year deal. "I am incredibly excited to join UAE Team Emirates-XRG next year and start a new chapter in my career," he added. "I’ve grown a lot over the last few years but I feel that the team environment of UAE with the level of the riders and attention to detail on the team will be the change I need to take the next step. I’m really looking forward to learning from the best in the world and contributing to the team’s success next season.”