UAE Team Emirates has signed five new faces for the 2025 season. One of these newcomers is the 26-year-old Belgian, Rune Herregodts, who comes from Intermarche – Wanty for two years. The recent ZLM Tour winner is determined to prove his worth:
“I was flattered that such a big team showed interest,” admits Herregodts in an interview with the Wieler Revue about the somewhat surprising change to the all-dominating powerhouse of the modern peloton. “Of course I also thought for a moment: I’m happy at Intermarche – Wanty and how many chances will I get with such a big team? It wasn’t an easy decision, but UAE Team Emirates means another step up.”
“I started cycling more as a cycling fan than it was always my big dream. When you can ride for such a big team… It’s something very special and I would never have dared to imagine it,” he adds Belgian time trial specialist added, noting that the obvious lure of racing alongside Tadej Pogacar also contributed to his decision. “Yes, becoming a teammate of Pogacar is also very special. It would be strange to say that you go to a team just because of a driver. That’s not true, but that doesn’t make it any less special.”
Having proven in recent years that he is a very capable rider, having five wins to his name and making his Grand Tour debut at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana (although he withdrew from the race on stage 16, Author’s note). Herregodts is now ready to prove himself once again and as he joins a team that boasts arguably the best line-up in the entire modern peloton, it would not be at all surprising to see the 26-year-old improve his level greatly in the coming seasons , as many other UAE Team Emirates riders have done.
