\nLeaving comfort behind to find clarity<\/p>\n
Vermaerke arrives at UAE after five seasons with Picnic PostNL, a period that gave him experience across Grand Tours and Monuments but also left him searching for direction. \u201cI felt like I had kind of maxed out my time there,\u201d he explained. \u201cIn order for me to keep growing and take the next step in my career, I really needed to push myself into something new.\u201d<\/p>\n
That search for clarity is central to why UAE appealed. Unlike teams where leadership can shift race to race, UAE\u2019s hierarchy is unmistakable, built around Tadej Pogacar<\/a> and a clearly defined support structure. For Vermaerke, that structure is not restrictive. It is motivating.At the 2025 Vuelta a Espana<\/a>, thrown in as a late replacement, he repeatedly found himself in long breakaways, only to be beaten by riders wearing the same colours he would soon join. \u201cUnfortunately, I always found myself up against someone that was a little bit stronger,\u201d he said, gesturing toward his new teammates. The frustration of missing out was matched by a realisation that he was measuring himself against the highest possible standard.Learning alongside the sport\u2019s benchmarkThat standard is embodied by Tadej Pogacar<\/a>, whose presence shapes both expectations and opportunity inside the team. Vermaerke is clear-eyed about what that means. \u201cAccepting that Pogacar is the best isn\u2019t part of what we\u2019re about,\u201d he said, explaining that internal competition remains fundamental even inside a dominant structure.<\/p>\n Rather than seeing Pogacar\u2019s level as something that limits personal ambition, Vermaerke views it as a reference point. \u201cComing into a team like this where I have the best coaches, best nutritionists and best teammates, they\u2019re going to give me the tools,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s up to me to ultimately use those tools to prove myself.\u201d<\/p>\n That environment, he believes, is what separates UAE from the rest. \u201cEverybody\u2019s pushing each other in a really healthy way,\u201d he explained, describing a culture where standards are enforced daily, not imposed from above.<\/p>\n