'I think Tadej would allow me to win Paris-Roubaix' - Florian Vermeersch on potential Roubaix opportunities

Vermeersch burst onto the scene at Paris-Roubaix with an impressive debut, sprinting to second place in 2021 behind Sonny Colbrelli, when the Belgian was riding for Lotto Soudal. His other appearances in the 'Hell of the North' have seen Vermeersch take a respective 5th in 2025 and a 12th in 2023.

If Vermeersch is to go on and chase his dream of winning Paris-Roubaix in 2026, then he could have his teammate, the Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogacar, potentially in the way, but Vermeersch doesn't see it that way.

"I'm certainly not going to put anything in Tadej's [Pogacar] way. In the first place, I don't have the character for that, nor the status. For me, it's no problem at all that he starts there." Vermeersch said to Belgian outlet Sporza.

Vermeersch then went on to say that the duo of Pogacar and himself has the potential to work well together, "I continue to believe that there will be situations in which we can be very complementary. The most important thing is that we grant it to each other. We have a good relationship, and I think he would also allow me to win Roubaix."

Preparations for the 2026 season are already well underway for Vermeersch and UAE Team Emirates - XRG, with a reconnaissance of Paris-Roubaix, including the Carrefour de l'Arbre, and the Tour of Flanders, where Pogacar was spotted zooming up the Paterberg just last week. 

On the recon, Vermeersch was full of praise for the world champion, "He still amazes me every day. He really made us suffer for two days," said Vermeersch.