Julien Vermote will ride for Cofidis in 2020, it was announced on Thursday.The Belgian rider, who started his professional career with Quick Step in 2011, spent the last two seasons with Dimension Data.

"I am very happy to sign with Cofidis. Cofidis is a team with a long history in cycling and it means a lot to me. The team is based in the north of France, so geographically we are close. Riding with a team that has the same cycling culture obviously gives me energy and motivation."

Vermote had a difficult 2019 season, with illness ruining his spring campaign and missing selection for the Tour de France. He finished the season earlier this month without a 2020 contract, although his absence from the Grand Depart in Brussels seemed to suggest that his departure from Dimension Data was imminent.

On Thursday morning, the UCI confirmed that Cofidis had won promotion to the 19-team WorldTour in 2020, and later that day the French team officially announced its deal with Vermote.

Cofidis was active in the transfer market with an eye on the World Tour, signing Elia Viviani, Guillaume Martin, Fabio Sabatini, and Nathan Haas. Meanwhile, Nasser Bouhanni left Cedric Vasseur's team for Arkea Samsic. Vermote will enjoy a free role in the cobblestone classics, but will also play an active role in Viviani's sprint unit.

"In my career, sprinter or not, I have always worked a lot for the leaders," he said. I want to help the team and I want to work especially for Elia [Viviani] and Christophe [Laporte]. At the same time, I want to seize my opportunities in the Classics in a more free role. I am convinced that next season we will have a great team."

Vermote has won three races as a professional, with stage wins in Dreiderg van West-Vlaanderen in 2012 and the Tour of Britain in 2014 and 2016.

Vasseur welcomed Vermaut's addition, saying the Kortrijk native "will be an integral part of the 2020 team. He will bring all the know-how, racing knowledge and the culture of one-day racing."