“They all think they’ll miss the new Pogacar or Remco” – Visma rider struggling to find a contract as young riders take the spots.

Julien Vermote currently finds himself without a contract for the 2026 season, facing growing challenges as teams focus their recruitment on young prospects the next “Evenepoel or Pogacar.” Despite his 15 seasons at the top level and a wealth of experience, the Belgian veteran is struggling to secure a place in the peloton.

“They all fear missing out on the next Pogacar or Remco. But there aren’t fifty of them out there,” Vermote told Het Nieuwsblad. “My age puts some teams off. Everything today is measured in watts and heart rate zones, but races are still won with intelligence and instinct.”

Vermote had previously discussed his situation after not being offered a renewal at Visma, a team where competition for spots is fierce. Over his career with Visma, Quick-Step, Dimension Data, Cofidis, and Alpecin-Deceuninck, he has built a reputation as a dependable road captain. While his numbers may not match the raw data of younger riders, he believes his racecraft and experience still hold great value.

“We don’t race on rollers, but sometimes it feels that way,” he said. “You can handle that for a few years, but eventually something snaps mentally. Riders burn out before they reach their full potential. Things like positioning, reading the race, and staying calm you don’t learn that from TrainingPeaks.”

Now 36, Vermote faces a shrinking job market as most teams finalize their rosters, with some even folding or merging, reducing the number of available spots at the highest level.

“I know I can still contribute,” he insisted. “I understand when to protect a leader or when to slow things down that’s not something you can download. In the end, courage and judgment still beat the power meter. A rider isn’t a machine, and people seem to forget that. Cycling isn’t a lab experiment; races are won with heart, not algorithms.”