Meurisse wants to help others (read: Pidcock) win at Q36.5: "Just like I did with van der Poel and Philipsen in recent years"

The 33-year-old West Flemish rider has signed a two-year contract. “I have followed the team since 2023 when it started because my good friend Tom Devriendt was part of it,” Meurisse said in the announcement. “He has always been very positive about the set-up, and from the outside it looks professional and generally very good. In Tom Pidcock they have a fantastic leader. I can’t wait to experience the team from the inside from next year. It’s my first non-Belgian team so that’s something new to be excited about.”

While his good friend Tom Devriendt has now retired from professional racing, Meurisse will be staying on for at least another two years. Before spending five years with Alpecin-Deceuninck, the rider from Otegem rode for the current Intermarché-Wanty team for a long time. In 2018, Meurisse recorded his second of five professional victories in the Druivenkoers.

This season, Meurisse is having the “best season of his career,” according to his new team. The rider finished tenth in the Clásica San Sebastián and was on the attack several times in the Tour de France. “I can get a decent result for myself but I won’t win big races. I can help others win big races like I did with Mathieu van der Poel or Jasper Philipsen in recent years. It want to help a team leader like Tom in the same way.”

At Q36.5, Meurisse will therefore mainly be concerned with supporting team leader Pidcock, just as he did for Van der Poel at Alpecin-Deceuninck. “Being a domestique is a position that’s valued a lot by the teams I was part of. Whether that is keeping your leader out of the wind, helping prepare for a sprint or getting them in the best position for a crucial point. It’s all vital for the team’s overall performance and the final result.”

General manager Doug Ryder adds: “Xandro brings incredible experience from his many years in the pro peloton racing all the big classics and competing in multiple Grand Tours. He’s played a part in helping some of the best riders in the world achieve major victories, and that knowledge is hugely valuable as we continue to grow as a team.”

Ryder is particularly impressed by Meurisse's versatility. "What excites me most is his versatility. He can be a key domestique in the mountains, contribute to sprint preparations, and still have the opportunity to chase results for himself. In a Grand Tour squad of just eight riders, that adaptability is vital. Off the bike, Xandro’s open personality and depth of experience will make him an excellent mentor to our younger riders, both in and out of races. He’s going to be a fantastic addition to this team"