Louis Vervaeke: “Happy and proud of the year I had!”

In our last blog of 2025, the experienced Belgian looked back on his fourth season with the Wolfpack.

“I’m looking back on my season with satisfaction. I’m happy and proud with of year I had, especially with the first individual victory I got. I had won the TTT in UAE with the guys a couple of years ago, but this time it was completely different. I remember we did a recon of the course before the race and I really liked the parcours, as I knew a hard finale like the one in the Yitti Hills would suit me. I had a great day and good legs, which allowed me to keep everyone else behind.

The first months of the season made me confident I could go to the Tour de France, and I started the Critérium du Dauphiné with a lot of motivation, but I broke my collarbone there and had to skip the Grande Boucle. On the other hand, I was fresher for the second part of the season and had two strong months in August and September. I came close to wearing the KOM jersey at the Vuelta, fought for the stage win on three occasions and left the race with plenty of beautiful memories.

At the end of the month, I travelled to Rwanda for the World Championships, which was a memorable experience, especially since it was my first time in Africa. Then the Europeans followed, and there I had better legs, and I was content I could help Remco fight for a medal. It was one of my best days on a bike, and finishing so close to the top ten rounded it out.”

Mentoring the new generation

“Cycling has changed since my first days as a pro, but I continue to love it and remain committed to it. Next year will be my 13th in the pro peloton and I hope to start it as strong as I finished the previous one, continue to race by going on the offensive – because it’s something that suits me – and grab every opportunity that I get. I hope for a solid season, with many wins for the team and plenty of memorable moments.

At the same time, because I have a lot of experience and a career with ups and downs, it helps me guide the young guys on the team, keep them relaxed and calm. It’s a role that I like having, because it comes naturally. We have many talented riders on the squad and I want to help them become better and reach the highest level possible. It’s something I really enjoy doing and I’m glad that my teammates appreciate this, that’s the best reward at the end of the day.”

Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images