Florian Vermeersch Ready for 4th Consecutive Ronde van Vlaanderen Participation with Lotto Dstny Team

This Sunday, Florian Vermeersch of the Lotto Dstny team will be participating in his fourth consecutive Ronde van Vlaanderen. The race, which covers 270 kilometers of iconic hills and cobbles in Belgium, marks the finale of the Flemish spring Classics season. Vermeersch is looking forward to leaving behind the string of bad luck he has experienced in recent races and hopes to make his mark as one of Lotto Dstny’s protected riders.

Speaking about his previous misfortunes, Vermeersch acknowledges the challenges of racing on Flemish roads, stating, “It’s true that I had quite some bad luck the past races but that’s part of racing on Flemish road, where misfortune is lurking behind every corner.” However, he remains optimistic heading into the Ronde. “Now it’s time to fully focus on the Tour of Flanders, which we will start with a strong and motivated team. We are really eager to show ourselves in Flanders’ Finest. Behind the top favourites…the field is quite evenly matched I think. Personally, I remain careful in expressing my ambitions but I hope for a top twenty placing.”

Vermeersch also shares the team’s race tactics for the Ronde van Vlaanderen. “It is known that not many riders in the peloton are able to match the attacks of the big Three. That is why we can’t wait until let’s say the final time Kwaremont-Paterberg. The only thing is, it’s becoming more and more difficult to anticipate. There aren’t many races left where you can predict how the race unfolds, so we need to be creative. How we’re going to do that will become clear in the race.”

One advantage Vermeersch highlights is his knowledge of the Flemish roads, which he believes will give him an edge in the Ronde. “It is a long race with difficult climbs but a good knowledge of the course already gives you an edge…I hope to be up there on the attack, play my part in the race, and help the team to achieve a good result.”

Vermeersch will be joined by his teammates for the Ronde van Vlaanderen, including debutant Caleb Ewan from Australia. The race is expected to be highly competitive with top favorites like Van Aert, Van der Poel, and Pogacar participating.