“They removed a piece from my nose” – Maxim van Gils hopeful off-season operation will unlock career-best form in 2026 alongside new teammate Remco Evenepoel
Cycling
After a season he openly admits was “not the easiest”, Maxim van Gils is banking on a small but significant off-season operation to help him reset and finally show his true level in 2026.
The Belgian underwent nasal surgery following a year repeatedly disrupted by illness, crashes and allergy flare-ups — a run so brutal it saw him tumble from 14th to 180th in the UCI World Ranking.
“They removed a piece from my nose,” he explained in conversation with Sporza. “That will help me next season.”
For a rider who has watched whole blocks of form dissolve under colds, infections and breathing issues, the procedure represents both a medical fix and a psychological turning point.
A fresh start after a bruising first year with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
Van Gils’ debut season at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe never found rhythm. A late transfer meant he missed early team integration: “I had missed the team days, so I didn’t know everyone at that first camp. It was a bit difficult and I needed an adaptation period.”
Even when early results came — including a stage win at the Vuelta a Andalucia — his year quickly unravelled. His pollen allergy flared, a heavy crash at the Amstel Gold Race left him riding through the Ardennes in pain, and a run of repeated illness in the summer destroyed what remained of his momentum.
“In the summer I got sick twice around the Renewi Tour. When I got ill again after the Bretagne Classic, I never got back into form.”
With the operation now behind him and the team environment fully understood, Van Gils feels confident that the worst is behind him. “By now I know the team. I think and hope next year will go better.”
Van Gils first campaign with Red Bull was a drisrupted one
Target: consistency — and a Grand Tour
His ambitions for 2026 are clear and, importantly, realistic: “I want to be good from the beginning and perform consistently. I also want to ride a Grand Tour,” he said, noting last season’s failure to make one of the three big startlists.
The arrival of fellow Belgian superstar Remco Evenepoel is another source of motivation rather than intimidation. Van Gils believes the team’s depth will only elevate the new signing’s ceiling — and his own.
“In every race we can line up a very strong team, so Remco will always be very well surrounded,” he said. “It’s always nice going to a race with Remco because you have a better chance of winning. Remco is a winner and is not happy with second place. That makes him a fantastic rider.”
And yes… the Ronaldo nickname is sticking
The interview finished on a lighter note: the origin story of his increasingly common nickname in the peloton.
“During some lunch, my teammate Giulio Pellizzari started calling me Cris. I replied: ‘What is it, Yamal?’” Van Gils laughed. “Since then they’ve been calling me Cris (Cristiano Ronaldo) and Pellizzari Yamal because he’s so young. It’s funny.”
After a year full of frustration, injury and illness, Van Gils heads into 2026 with something he hasn’t had for a long time: a clean slate — and a nose that finally works in his favour.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment