Despite finishing his first week as a professional cyclist without a race, Belgian champion U23 Florian Vermeersch remains optimistic about his future in the World Tour. At just 21 years old, Vermeersch is seen as a promising talent in the sport.
Vermeersch, who began his cycling career in cyclocross, decided to focus on road cycling after realizing he wasn’t progressing in the field. He quickly made a name for himself on the road, winning the Belgian title and multiple stages in the Tour de Moselle during his first full-time season.
Reflecting on the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermeersch said, “It is a pity that I could only ride two races in that beautiful jersey this year. Fortunately, I won Brussel-Zepperen which is a consolation prize after a spring that was cancelled. For everybody, corona has rather shut down our land and the world. Then you can put into perspective that what we do is merely riding a bike. I could focus more on my studies but was able to stay in good shape. I am eager to race again and want to be ready as soon as we can compete. Our sponsors deserve this.”
While a debut in a Grand Tour is not on the cards for Vermeersch this season, he remains focused on the upcoming races and hopes to be selected for the World Championships time trial U23. Vermeersch, who is also studying history at Ghent University, sees this season as an opportunity to learn and contribute to his team.
Vermeersch’s determination and passion for the sport indicate that he is a rider to watch in the future. With his talent and drive, it’s only a matter of time before he makes his mark in the pro cycling world.
