Can Bahrain Victorious unleash Belgium’s big spring surprise?

Lotto-Intermarché have developed a huge number of talents in recent years. The Belgian team still has Arnaud De Lie, Lennert Van Eetvelt and Jarno Widar in its ranks, but Segaert opted for a new adventure over the winter. His contract with Lotto expired and he chose to sign a three-year deal with Bahrain Victorious.

The Bahraini squad have shown for some time that they have a sharp eye for talent. In the early Bahrain-Merida years, the focus was on established stars such as Vincenzo Nibali and Mikel Landa, but in recent seasons the strategy has shifted more towards young riders with serious engine power. Lenny Martinez, Santiago Buitrago and Jakob Omrzel fit that profile, and this winter Segaert was added to that list.

As a young rider, Segaert was already making waves at club level as a time trial specialist. He had a huge engine, as shown by victories in the Internationale Juniorenrundfahrt, the European junior time trial championships and the Chrono des Nations. He also finished second in Paris-Roubaix Juniors in 2021. Once he stepped into Lotto’s U23 setup, he continued to impress, especially against the clock.

In 2023, he made the move to Lotto’s top team and immediately finished second at the Belgian national elite time trial championships, only behind Van Aert. At the European Championships he won the U23 time trial, while he was second at the World Championships. In 2024, he successfully defended his European U23 time trial title, and in his first Vuelta a España he rode to a top-10 finish in the final time trial deep into the third week.

But there is more to Segaert than just time trials. In 2024, he won the Grand Prix Criquielion from a sprint in a small group, won the time trial and finished second overall in the Renewi Tour, and then took third at the U23 World Championships. His Vuelta debut in 2025 was one of the key steps in his development, and after gaining the endurance of a first Grand Tour in his legs, he then chose to join Bahrain.

The first few months at Bahrain Victorious have gone smoothly, Segaert recently told IDLProCycling.com. “Things are going well. The integration has actually gone smoothly and the motivation was there straight away anyway. I want to be there immediately for my new team in the Classics, and although we had quite a bit of bad luck during Opening Weekend, we still managed a fine fourth place with Matevz Govekar in Kuurne.”

His new team are immediately giving Segaert a prominent role throughout the spring Classics campaign, much like in 2024 and 2025 when he also rode an almost full Classics programme. “And just like in the previous two years, I’ve been at altitude on Teide. I’ve also always chosen to do some preparation races in France or Spain before moving on to the Classics.”

Where Segaert’s approach over the past two seasons — especially in the biggest Classics — may have been more about gaining experience than truly racing for victory, in 2026 he wants to start delivering results. “I’ll try to go for a result everywhere if the opportunity is there. Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen and GP Denain are races that should suit me well, and of course Paris-Roubaix.”

Those are serious ambitions, but why not? In Le Samyn and Nokere Koerse, we saw Segaert going all-in on the attack, even if it still did not quite fall his way. In Nokere, he was only caught right before the line. “On days like that, everything has to fall into place,” Segaert said of his qualities as a big-engine rider.

“I really do believe it’s possible. Last year I already rode top 10 in Denain and Dwars door Vlaanderen, so I was already pretty consistent. A top result is possible if things go a little my way,” said the Belgian, who forms a dangerous tandem at Bahrain Victorious with Matej Mohorič, also for the big Classics that are coming up. “He might be a bit stronger uphill, but together we are a strong block.”

Now it is time to show it. After Nokere came GP Denain, followed by E3 Saxo Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. “Racing with Matej is really enjoyable. I had expected he would be an ideal teammate and ally, and we are indeed complementary riders. Hopefully that will allow us to take results together.”

Bram van der Ploeg ( X: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])