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Cape Town - Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka have announced the signing of 28-year-old Belgian, Julien Vermote.
Vermote will join Team Dimension Data in 2018 after spending seven years with the Quickstep outfit.
Vermote has been a strong and reliable team-mate for the better part of his career while also picking up three professional victories when not in service of a leader.
One of these victories will be fresh in the minds of Team Dimension Data supporters, when we watched Vermote jump clear of Steve Cummings to win Stage 2 of the Tour of Britain last year.
As Vermote looks to take that next step in his career, Team Dimension Data looks forward to the Belgian being a real factor deep into the finals of the cobbled classics.
Having formed part of Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel's sprint trains in previous years as well, the Flandrien will no doubt be a key asset in delivering Team Dimension Data's fast men to the finish line throughout next season too.
Julien Vermote - Rider:
I am really happy to be
joining Team Dimension Data. I must admit, it was a hard decision to leave
Quickstep. I was part of a family there and they gave me good opportunities but
there comes a time in a rider’s career when you have to take that next step,
and that time is now for me. I am happy that it was Team Dimension Data who
showed so much interest in me and I felt that trust from them straightaway. I
spoke to Mark (Cavendish) and Rolf Aldag over the phone quite a lot and they
really gave me the assurance that I was making the right decision. I look
forward to having more opportunities with Team Dimension Data, particularly in
the Spring Classics and being able to ride the final there. I love the Flanders
races, it is where I am from and I believe I can do well there. With the team
wanting me for this role already, it gives me great confidence. The whole look
and vision of the team is attractive to me though, it's outlook on linking
professional cycling to a charity that provides bicycles as a basic need, well
that is incredible. I am so excited to be part of it all.
Rolf Aldag – Head of Performance:
Julien is one of the most
respected riders in the peloton. He earned this reputation over 7 years
of loyal and reliable service to his team leaders. By controlling
breakaways and positioning the sprinters, Julien helped to win many races at
his former team. Now he reached a point in his career where he wants to see how
much more he can do with his talent. He is born, lives and trains in the heart
of Flanders. He has followed races like the "Ronde van Flanderen"
since he was a child. These races have been on his wish list for a long time.
Julien adds a lot of know-how and motivation to our cobble classic campaign and
will also give us extra power in Grand Tours for the sprint stages and in
protecting our GC rider. We are looking forward to welcome Julien to the team
and help him achieve his goals.
