Most riders aim to be in the cycling world's top teams, but not at the expense of their freedom. Alec Segaert reveals that he turned down an offer to join Team Visma | Lease a Bike, as he didn't want to be restricted to a domestique role.
The Belgian rider spent his early years as a professional at Lotto, turning pro and developing as a top-tier time trialist, but over time turning into a classics and breakaway specialist. In 2026 he moved towards Bahrain - Victorious, a very different environment in which he was teamed up with only one compatriot.
He has won the time trial national title, but two of his three wins in 2026 came as the result of late solo attacks on pan-flat terrain. Ordinarily, it is hard to escape the clutches of the peloton, but the 23-year old has found his specialty in that specific type of attack.
"I started doing this back in my youth categories—heading into almost every race with a plan," Segaer said on the Wielerflits Magazine. "I work it all out in my head in the days leading up to the race. I’m not the type to write it down on paper. But it always begins with the same fundamental question: how can I win this race?"
His race IQ was heavily complemented at the 2026 GP de Denain, in which he attacked together with Per Strand Hagenes. The Visma rider then dropped him in one of the final cobbled sectors of the race, but Segaert remained within sight. Only with 2 kilometers Segaert bridged across, immediately attacked the Norwegian, and then held off the peloton by two seconds.
Alec Segaert's solo attacks have become his trademark
But that victory was not a lucky shot. At the Giro d'Italia, only two months later, Segaert took off with 3.5 kilometers to go from a 70-men peloton. A pan-flat finale, in which his attack was based on raw watts. Segaert held off the peloton once again, and took the biggest win of his career.
So much so that his attacks are now seen with much more attention, and more often covered. “It’s a compliment, but I do rely on that element of surprise," he tells.
"I often wonder: how long can it possibly be before everyone realizes that my style of racing can actually lead to wins? That presents a new challenge for me.” Into 2027, he may no longer benefit from that element of surprise anymore.
Segaert turned down an offer from Visma
But the Bahrain rider enjoys his current environment, in which he is part of a solid World Tour structure, but is not restricted to the role of domestique. He reveals that into the 2026 season, joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike was an option, but one that he turned down.
“When you head to a race with Wout van Aert, it’s only logical that everything is geared toward supporting him," he explains. "He’s the one who can make the difference during the most demanding moments of a race, and the team has to shoulder the burden of controlling the race accordingly".
Segaert did not wish to be part of such train - even if, in the classics, races are often very tactical and beneficial for early attackers. But Segaert would nevertheless have a secondary role, something that is not the case at his current team.
"That’s never the case for us at Bahrain Victorious, and I’m comfortable with that. I value my freedom," he admits. Aside from his wins, Segaert was also 15th at the Tour of Flanders and 16th at Paris-Roubaix, showcasing his talent even in the most difficult of cobbled races.
"As long as I feel I can win races here in my own way, I’m happy. A move to a top-tier team like that might come naturally later on".
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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