🎥 Florian Vermeersch crashed heavily in the Arenberg Forest: "This race gives and this race takes"

Paris-Roubaix 2026 did not go as UAE Team Emirates-XRG had hoped. Team leader Tadej Pogačar had to settle for second place after three punctures, while protected rider Florian Vermeersch did not reach the finish. He gave an update afterwards.

The team from the Emirates deliberately kept Vermeersch near the front while Pogačar was chasing back to the peloton. Just before the Arenberg Forest, the Slovenian made it back, and he and Vermeersch took up position at the head of the race together.

Where Pogačar came through Arenberg unscathed, the same could not be said for Vermeersch. Brief TV footage showed him limping in pain, which he later explained via his social media.

"This race gives and this race takes," Vermeersch said. "Today luck was not on our side in Paris-Roubaix. Crashed hard after a puncture on Arenberg and was forced to abandon."

"Proud of Tadej Pogačar and the whole team of how they fought. We’re not done yet here" the 2021 runner-up wrote. The world champion replied to Vermeersch's post saying, "Damn… proud of you. heal up." As we head into the Ardennes Classics, it is clear we will see more of this pair soon.