Belgian champion confirms departure from UAE - "I also hope to be able to ride more for myself"
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates - XRG signed Rune Herregodts into the 2025 season, looking to turn him into a premium domestique. The Belgian rider has done a strong job but hasn't climbed into the top ranks of the team; and after confirming he is still very much at his prime with a victory at the Belgian national championships, he will move away from the team looking for more opportunities.
Herregodts confirms departure from UAE
Interest from teams such as Lotto - Intermarché, Alpecin - Premier Tech and Cofidis had already been previously reported, and one of those three teams will most likely be the 28-year old's new destination. The transfer market opens officially this Saturday and in one of the post-Tour de France criteriums, in which he was asked to start as many take place in Belgium, he confirmed that he won't be staying at UAE.
"I've had some truly wonderful years with UAE Team Emirates, but I'm eager to explore a new environment," Herregodts said in words to DirectVelo. "I also hope to be able to ride more for myself, so I can get closer to winning. I haven't signed with any team yet. Several teams are interested, but nothing is official yet."
A rouleur by excellence, he has taken advantage of his ability to race on the flat roads and the explosive classics; often being an aggressive rider due to his ability to race solo and his extremely aerodynamic stance - reminiscent of his compatriots Remco Evenepoel and Victor Campenaerts.
"Since I won the title, so many things have happened to me. The Belgian champion's jersey has a huge appeal for cycling fans. They constantly ask me for photos, selfies, autographs, and much more. It's a truly special experience."

Rune Herregodts will depart UAE Team Emirates - XRG
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Herregodts looks to end time at UAE on a high
Top10 at the Copenhagen Sprint just over a month ago, followed by the win at the nationals due to a courageous attack that culminated with a small group sprint win; Herregodts has shown his very best form recently. He will not be racing the Vuelta a España most likely, but instead have a more vast schedule in the latter months of his season.
Next week, he will be starting the Tour de Pologne, where he will debut his new jersey in a UCI event. "It's a varied race with flat stages, uphill finishes, and a time trial. I'm particularly looking forward to the latter. We'll be leading with João Almeida, so I'll be working especially for him," he concluded.

Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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