Mathieu van der Poel loses another domestique: Belgian veteran moves to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe

Vermeersch joined Beobank-Corendon, the predecessor of Alpecin-Deceuninck, in March 2017. That means his departure this winter marks the end of nearly nine years with the team run by the Roodhooft brothers. During that time, he claimed four victories: the Slag om Norg in 2017, the Antwerp Port Epic in 2020, a stage in the Four Days of Dunkirk in 2022, and most recently, Dwars door het Hageland in 2023.

“Vermeersch is regarded as a specialist for the tough northern races: cobbles, Flemish climbs, and gravel sections are his terrain,” Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe wrote in a press release announcing their new signing. “Seven participations in the Tour of Flanders, five starts at Paris-Roubaix, and the title as the first UCI Gravel World Champion highlight his versatility and experience. With this profile, Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe aims to expand its quality in one-day races.”

Team CEO Ralph Denk is pleased with the signing and shared the reasoning behind the move. “With Gianni, we want to close the gaps that became apparent last spring. Our roster certainly has a lot of classics quality. But we often lacked routine, depth, and punch to shape the finale with our talents. We are convinced that Gianni can make exactly this difference.”

Vermeersch himself is also happy about the transfer. “I’m really looking forward to this new chapter in my career. After many years in the same environment, a whole new world is opening up for me. It’s an honor to join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, and I’m excited to share my classics experience with the younger riders,” said the Belgian.