Although he has not secured any victories, the consistency at a high level demonstrated by Florian Vermeersch in races during this early part of 2026 should prove sufficient to guarantee the Belgian rider's confirmation at UAE Team Emirates-XRG for the coming seasons as well.

It was Wielerflits that revealed how the work carried out in support of his team leaders and the important series of top finishes achieved in recent months by the gravel world champion have convinced the Emirati team's management to secure the twenty-seven-year-old from Ghent, as various sources reported to the outlet that, despite interest from other teams, Vermeersch is close to signing a three-year extension with Mauro Gianetti's team.

Third this year at the Omloop Nieuwsblad, the E3 Saxo Classic, and in the stage finishing in San Vicente del Raspeig of the Volta Valenciana, the former Lotto rider has demonstrated in recent weeks that he possesses ample qualities to take on the role of captain in some of the most important Northern classics, a potential that, combined with the valuable support he provided to Tadej Pogacar at both Strade Bianche and at Sanremo and Flanders (which he nonetheless finished in seventh place), has earned him the opportunity to put pen to paper on a new contract expiring in 2029 with spring not yet concluded.

Having received the necessary guarantees regarding the freedom to play his own cards in certain one-day races in the coming years, Vermeersch should shortly make this opportunity concrete, thus becoming, when the continuation of the partnership is made official, the sixth rider within UAE to boast an agreement of similar duration after the already mentioned Pogacar, Isaac Del Toro, Jan Christen, Adrià Pericas, and Pablo Torres.

With and alongside these men, Vermeersch will be able to continue flying the UAE flag in the most prestigious classics on the calendar and contribute effectively, whether as a domestique or perhaps even in a leading role (breaking a drought on the road that has lasted since 2022), to rounding out the ever-growing tally of team victories.