Newly crowned Belgian champion Rune Herregodts confirms UAE departure

After spending the opening years of his career exclusively with Belgian teams, Rune Herregodts made a surprise move to UAE Team Emirates-XRG ahead of the 2025 season. The 28-year-old Belgian signed a two-year contract and claimed the national road title earlier this summer. Despite that success, the Aalst-born rider will now have to find a new team for next season.

Herregodts won the Belgian champion’s jersey at the end of June, beating Jonas Rickaert of Alpecin-Premier Tech and Fabio Van den Bossche of Soudal Quick-Step in the sprint. On the course in Brasschaat, he secured his first professional victory since signing with UAE Team Emirates in 2024. He thus succeeded Tim Wellens, who had claimed the title in Binche.

It was comfortably the biggest victory of Herregodts’ career. Wearing Belgium’s famous black, yellow and red colours has also brought him considerably more attention than he received before. “The Belgian champion’s jersey is hugely appealing to cycling fans,” he told DirectVélo. “I’m constantly being asked for photos, selfies, autographs and much more. It really is a very special experience.”

The 28-year-old is currently preparing for the Tour of Poland. “It is a varied race, with flat stages, mountain finishes and a time trial. I’m particularly looking forward to the latter. We will be there with João Almeida as our leader, so I will mainly be working for him.” Herregodts has yet to ride a Grand Tour in UAE colours, although there may still be a few places available in the team’s Vuelta a España line-up.

If he is selected for the Vuelta, it would be Herregodts’ final opportunity to ride a Grand Tour for UAE. His time with the team of Tadej Pogačar and Isaac del Toro will come to an end when his two-year contract expires. “I have had some fantastic years at UAE Team Emirates, but I want to experience a new environment. I also hope to be able to race for myself more often and put myself in a position where I can get closer to winning.”

Those opportunities have been relatively rare. At the Copenhagen Sprint, Herregodts fought for victory from the breakaway, only to be caught by the peloton inside the final kilometre. He eventually finished ninth. It is not yet known where the Belgian champion will continue his career. “I haven’t signed anywhere yet. Several teams are interested, but nothing is official,” he concluded.