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Back on the road: Rune Herregodts opens his season in Australia

Belgian cyclist Rune Herregodts begins a new chapter of his professional cycling career with UAE Team Emirates – XRG. Rune started his season with the new colors in the first race of the year in Australia, more concretely at the Tour Down Under.  This year starts with two firsts for the cyclist, making his debut with his new team and racing for the first time in Oceania.

While the rider was down under, we had the opportunity to chat with him about his cycling career, the change of team, his aspirations for the season and what it’s like to ride in Adelaide.

The person behind the cyclist

Herregodts joined UAE Team Emirates – XRG as part of their roster refresh. At 26 years old, he revealed excitement about joining the team, stating “I took another step up now, I’m happy with the progression I made in these four years.“

 

Herregodts’ path to professional cycling was full of surprises: he began cycling at 15 but didn’t initially envision a pro career. Until 2022 he tried to balance the sport with his university studies – he was enrolled in Medicine at Ghent University. Even starting without aspirations of making it as a pro, the professional cyclist in him began to develop. Herregodts gradually climbed through the ranks, from a small Flemish team to a WorldTeam – former Intermaché-Circus-Wanty, and now to the structure that he considers “the biggest team in the world”.

As a person, he defines himself as having an analytical mindset, shaped by his six years of medical studies. “I’m quite scientific, so I like to analyze everything. I’m quite interested in the coaching and nutrition part of cycling,” he explained. This scientific approach extends to his training and racing strategy, though he acknowledges the importance of not overthinking and trusting his team’s expertise.

Asked about his future, and whether medicine is still part of his plans, Rune admits that it could be a possibility, depending on how long his career as a cyclist lasts. He admits that after the age of 35, it might be more difficult to go back, but if he finishes his career as a professional cyclist early and still has the desire to study: “Then I think it would be good to try and finish it.”

New role in UAE Team Emirates – XRG

Joining UAE Team Emirates – XRG marks a significant step in Herregodts’ career. He describes the transition as “smooth”, having already bonded with teammates during pre-season activities. They gathered three times before the season kicked off, starting with team-building activities in Abu Dhabi last October. Rune says that the initial gathering was more relaxed, focusing on fun activities at the beach and pool, allowing everyone to get more familiarized in a casual setting.

In December, the team had a training camp that balanced the preparation for the season and social interaction within the team. While the focus was on long trainings and proper recovery, there was still time for coffee breaks and enjoyable activities, further strengthening team relationships.

This gradual integration has helped the cyclist feel at ease within the team’s structure: “It’s already the third time we’re together, so I don’t feel like I need to get to know everybody because you already know a lot of people,” Herregodts said.

At UAE Team Emirates – XRG, Herregodts’ primary role will be supporting the team’s leaders in major races. However, he’ll also have opportunities to pursue individual results in smaller races and time trials. “We want to improve the time trial this year,” he stated, highlighting it as a key focus area, anticipating his participation in 6-8 time trials this season, and aiming to improve his skills.

“I was already quite okay last year [referring to his Time Trial skills], but now with the setup of UAE Team Emirates – XRG, I hope to make a step up from last year.”

When questioned about who impressed him the most, he did not hesitate to single out the younger guys on the team.  They are remarkably professional, paying meticulous attention to their nutrition and training routines, which is an interesting generational shift in cycling. In his youth, the older riders were the ones who set the standard for professionalism. However, he also acknowledged that this strict approach might be challenging to maintain over an entire season or career, acknowledging that more experienced riders may be less rigid but perhaps more consistent in their way of working, which could be a reflection of their experience and ability to pace themselves over time.

“Most cyclists put more pressure on themselves than the team puts on them.”

Riding in Adelaide, Australia

The Tour Down Under provided a unique setting for Herregodts and his team, at a very hot beginning of the season. Rune enjoyed his time in Adelaide as well as the training conditions: a mix of hills for interval training and flat roads along the beach for recovery rides. Of course, he would not miss to mention the Australian wildlife that also left an impression, with kangaroo and koala sightings adding excitement to training rides. Rune told us a funny story that happened during one of the training sessions: “We saw a kangaroo at the side of the road, and the car stopped to point us to the kangaroo, but one of the guys was not paying attention and crashed into the car. Luckily, it was uphill and he was going slow, so it was not bad, and it ended up being a funny moment.”

He highlights the city’s diverse terrain, with good hills for training just 5-10 kilometers outside the urban center, perfect for 1 to 10-minute efforts, and also mentions the quality of the roads. However, he cautions about the need to plan rides carefully due to the weather, emphasizing the importance of proper hydration and preparation. “You need to cope with the weather, that’s maybe a problem. We are very lucky as we always have a car next to us or behind us so when we are thirsty we just stop for a bottle. If you’re here alone, you need to plan your trip quite well, so you don’t end up in the middle of nowhere with no feeding,” he said.

For a 5-10 min effort, Rune suggested:

Norton Summit

Norton Summit is a classic climb of Adelaide Hills, stretching 5.5 kilometers with an average gradient of 5.3% and 292 meters of elevation gain. Starting from Magill Road, the climb offers cyclists a challenging yet manageable ascent with varying gradients. The road provides minimal traffic and stunning views over Adelaide. This beautiful climb is one of the favorites among riders, and many teams have climbed up there, as it was part of stage 3 of the 2025 Tour Down Under.

Devil to Bollards

The Devil to Bollards climb is a challenging ascent located in the Adelaide Hills. This 5.5-kilometer route gains 261 meters in elevation, with an average gradient of 4.4%. The climb begins at the Devil’s Elbow, a notorious hairpin turn. As riders progress, they encounter varying gradients, including some steeper. The climb concludes at a set of bollards, which mark the finish line for those timing their efforts.

The team shared with us a training session they did, a training of approximately 100 km, with an elevation gain of 1761 m, where they passed several points of interest including the Norton Summit climb. Check the route here.

The cycling culture in Adelaide impressed Herregodts, with organized group rides and enthusiastic fans creating an amazing atmosphere. Regarding Tour Down Under,  “The race environment feels almost like a small festival” stated Rune. In Rune’s opinion, the event’s annual nature contributes to its special appeal, creating a unique opportunity for fans to see professional riders up close.

The time in Australia with the team concluded with the icing on the cake, as they won the overall classification in the Tour Down Under with Jhonatan Narvaez. As Herregodts settles into his new team, his focus is on development and contributing to UAE Team Emirates -XRG’s success.

Photos: Fizza (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) / @philbarcatta