“It took some getting used to riding for myself, but I had incredible legs today”: Rune Herregodts outsmarted favourites in chaotic finale to become new Belgian champion

Rune Herregodts has produced a stunning upset at the Belgian National Championships in Brasschaat, winning from a reduced breakaway trio after a chaotic and high-speed race in which the pre-race favourites were never in contention.

The anticipated bunch sprint never materialised, as the key contenders were distanced from the front action early and never managed to regain control. Instead, the race evolved into a constant series of attacks. Herregodts followed the decisive move initiated by Jonas Rickaert and Fabio Van den Bossche, before outkicking both in the final sprint.

“I can still hardly believe it,” Herregodts said in a post-race interview. “I had ambition, but avoiding a sprint seemed impossible. When I missed the big group, I thought it was over. Then I forced it myself and it became a criterium. It took some getting used to riding for myself, but I had incredible legs today.”

He also admitted that he had to play smart as he is a weaker sprinter than the other two. “On paper I have the weakest sprint of the three and I used that to play poker. I boxed Fabio (Van den Bossche) a bit. That hurt, but I had to think of myself. On days like this I know I’m quite fast.”

“This was my only chance ever to become Belgian champion. I didn’t want to have regrets and now it’s sinking in. I enjoy working for guys like Pogacar, but it’s nice to show I can ride hard on the bike. I haven’t signed anywhere yet for next year. There are talks with several teams.”

Behind him, second place Jonas Rickaert narrowly missed out on victory after animating the decisive move but lacking the final sprint power. “It’s bitter. I will never be this close again. I rode a perfect race, but in the end there was nothing left. I can position someone perfectly, but I don’t have the pure speed,” Rickaert said.

Fabio Van den Bossche, who completed the podium in third, also expressed disappointment after being outmanoeuvred in the sprint. “Herregodts was smart. I didn’t expect him to close me in during the sprint. That’s when I felt it going wrong. I have to accept how it went. It could be that I never get that chance again. It’s gone,” Van den Bossche said.

Tim Merlier, one of the pre-race favourites, acknowledged that he never managed to control the race situation. “We lost control quite early in the beginning. Then I knew it would be a long race. At the moments when I moved up myself, the legs were immediately shut down,” Merlier said.

He nevertheless finished the race for the supporters and already turns his focus to the upcoming Tour de France. “For all the supporters I still finished,” he said calmly. “The signals are good.”

Thibau Nys, who finished fifth, had good legs but missed the decisive move. “There was more in it, but I’m also quite satisfied,” Nys said. “I can’t say I left much on the road. It’s a pity I missed the move of the final three. I hoped we could keep the pace high in the chase, but they were gone. They didn’t slow down.”