"Top-level sport is extreme" - Find out how new UAE Team Emirates rider Rune Herregodts balanced cycling with medicine studies

Belgian cyclist Rune Herregodts, who is set to leave Intermarché - Wanty for UAE Team Emirates in 2025, has long been known not only for his talent on the bike but also for his academic pursuits. A former medical student, Herregodts recently opened up to Wieler Revue about his passion for science and the unique perspective it brings to his career in professional cycling.

"After high school, I was torn between physiotherapy and medicine," Herregodts shared. "In retrospect, the first study would have been easier to combine with a top-level sports career. An internship for medicine takes two years, which makes it impossible to do when you are away so often. That is why I stopped my studies in 2022."

Herregodts’ decision to prioritize cycling over medicine was not an easy one. "You can split up theory subjects, but that is not possible during an internship. Will I ever finish it? Never say never. It probably depends on how long my cycling career will last. After six years of study you could still choose a specialization," he explained.

Despite stepping away from medicine, Herregodts hasn’t completely abandoned his interest in the field. "The most important thing, however, is that I never felt the pressure to become a professional cyclist," he said. "I thought: I’m going to become a doctor anyway, and if I’m lucky, I’ll become a professional cyclist."

Herregodts credits his scientific background for helping him navigate the demands of top-level cycling. "What also helps is that I’ve learned to read scientific articles. That I know how to distinguish pseudoscience from well-founded science," he noted. "It is not necessarily necessary in the WorldTour for you to be concerned with that as a rider, but I enjoy delving into it. Certainly in my years at Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise, I was more dependent on myself when it came to altitude or heat training."

This analytical mindset continues to influence his approach to training and competition. However, Herregodts acknowledged that his conversations with medical staff at Intermarché-Wanty have remained relatively surface-level. "It is more about the training system in other countries than about specific matters related to sports medicine," he said.

Herregodts also addressed the often-overlooked health risks associated with professional cycling. "No, we don’t have any discussions about the dangers of top-level sport either. It’s better than lying on your couch and doing nothing, but top-level sport is extreme," he said. "It’s not for nothing that they do research into the effects of extreme exertion on your heart. If you analyze top-level sport from a health perspective, you have to say that it’s not ideal."

The demands of cycling, particularly during multi-day tours, often require quick decisions that differ from standard medical practices. "When you’re in a multi-day tour and have to ride again the next day, everything becomes fleeting. It has to be resolved, while you tell a ‘normal’ person to take time," Herregodts explained. "Many of the decisions that are made are not the same as those of an ordinary doctor. It’s not that I experience it as a conflict, because you simply accept the risks of being a professional cyclist."

As Herregodts prepares to join UAE Team Emirates, his background in medicine continues to set him apart. While he has no immediate plans to return to his studies, the Belgian rider leaves the door open for the future. "I wanted to go into the direction of sports physician, maybe even in cycling," he said. "Until a few years ago, a physician also had a lot to say about training and nutrition, but their role has become more limited due to the arrival of specialists. That is why my feeling about becoming a sports physician diminished."