Vermote signs for Dimension Data
(Cyclingnews.com)

Julien Vermote will link up with Mark Cavendish once again next season after confirming that he will swap Quick-Step Floors for Dimension Data in 2018. The 28-year-old has been at Quick-Step since he turned professional in 2011. Vermote was a part of Cavendish´s sprint unit during the Manxman´s three-year stint with Quick-Step and continued in the service of Marcel Kittel over the past two seasons. The Belgian was especially prominent at this year´s Tour de France, where he performed much of the heavy lifting in chasing down breakaway attempts as Kittel sprinted to five stage victories. `I am really happy to be joining Team Dimension Data. I must admit, it was a hard decision to leave Quick-Step. 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,` Vermote said in a statement released by his new team.ADVERTISEMENT `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 and Rolf Aldag over the phone quite a lot and they really gave me the assurance that I was making the right decision.` Vermote explained that the prospect of increased freedom at the cobbled Classics was part of the attraction of signing for Dimension Data. Twice a stage winner at the Tour of Britain and winner of the Three Days of West Flanders in 2012, Vermote faced stiff competition to earn selection for the Classics at Quick-Step. He raced the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix for the first time this year. `I look forward to having more opportunities with Team Dimension Data, particularly in the Spring Classics and being able to ride the final there,` Vermote said. `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.` You can read more at Cyclingnews.com