'Maybe it seems more magical to you than it is': Rune Herregodts sees no secret at UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates XRG has been setting the standard in the peloton for several years now. Last year, the team secured a record 97 wins in a single season, and by mid-February, they were already at eleven. Alongside Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, Rune Herregodts has been riding with the star team for more than a year. In the UAE Tour, he shields his Mexican team leader Isaac Del Toro from the wind every day. In the build-up to the race, the 27-year-old East Flandrian spoke to WielerFlits.
Herregodts and Vermeersch were among the nine of the 29 riders who didn’t secure a win in 2025. While Vermeersch was somewhat embarrassed by this, that’s not the case for Herregodts. His role is completely different. "They signed me to help others win. It doesn’t really bother me if I don’t get to raise my hands. Mainly, I need to stay healthy and ride a consistent season; then the opportunities will come naturally."
"I started very well in Mallorca with some good results," said Herregodts. "The feeling I had in that race, I never experienced last year. Due to various setbacks, I never managed to build up gradually. There was always something that held me back at crucial moments. But maybe this year, I’m reaping the benefits of the many, long training sessions from back then."
How did you experience your first year in the world’s best team?
"Super positive. It was a year in which I really enjoyed going to every race. Having a specific goal for every event makes it enjoyable. In another team, I might have had a freer role now and then. But the level here, especially uphill, is very high. When I’m truly at my best, I might be able to compete there sometimes. But the great thing is that I can perform my role in every race here. They’re happy with what I deliver, and you get to share in the joy of victory quite often. The atmosphere among both riders and staff is excellent."
After a year in the team, have you found an explanation for why they stand head and shoulders above the other teams?
"The biggest reason is the balance we riders find here. I think everyone is very professional and consistent, but nobody goes to extremes. Call it the 80/20 or 90/10 strategy. We train very well all year round and pay close attention to our nutrition. But we’re not weighing every last gram in December. You even see Pogacar eating a piece of cake during training. That helps mentally to perform throughout the season."
There is a theory that your long training sessions work better than the VO2 max workouts of Visma | Lease a Bike with the current racing style.
"I think that’s a somewhat black-and-white view. I had to get used to this method, but it’s not radically different from my previous team. You notice that other teams try a bit to adopt our approach, but it’s more than just the training. In my opinion, balance plays a big role here as well. If you find a balance between rest and effort, you improve without getting overfatigued. That’s exactly what you need, and our coaches have mastered it perfectly."
To what extent does the dominance relate to having the highest budget?
"Of course, you notice the difference compared to my previous teams. There’s no budget worry, and they don’t have to be extremely careful with money. But they use the available resources very well and don’t throw money around. That goes for both the funds allocated to team operations and salaries. They don’t do crazy or excessive things, but if something is needed to improve performance, there is room for it."
"What I also want to mention: don’t forget we have a lot of talent in the team. That also has a big impact. Moreover, they have made a big step forward in recent years with the new bike models. I don’t think you can point to a single factor or a big secret why the team runs so well. It’s a combination of the four or five elements we just mentioned, I believe."
Do you look at that differently now from the inside?
"Maybe it seems even more special or magical from a distance than it does for us. But that’s normal. When you spend some time in a certain environment, it begins to feel more normal."
Do you feel privileged to be part of such a team?
"On one hand, I want to say yes. But then it sounds like I should only be grateful that they wanted me on the team. I earned it myself. Maybe if I look back on this period in ten years or more, it will be clearer that what we’re doing now and what the team has done in previous years are exceptional seasons in cycling. Then you can say: I was part of that, it was special. Right now, that feeling isn’t quite there."
Is a lot of the dominance linked to Pogacar?
"He’s a born leader who naturally pulls the group along. Because he’s so good, it comes very naturally. The hierarchy in the team is always a bit determined by who rides best. If he’s the best in the world, it makes sense that he’s the leader. But don’t underestimate that he’s a very normal guy—friendly and down to earth. He’s not too proud to also talk to staff members or development riders. Very pleasant to work with."
Does racing for UAE bring extra pressure?
"Definitely. You have to deliver when you race. In my role, that means: when the team leaders need to be at the front, I have to be there too. You don’t want to be out of position, have them crash, and it be your fault. When you’re out there with Pogacar, but also with Adam Yates or Isaac Del Toro, you know our chances of winning are very high. Not only I but everyone wants to defend those chances in the best possible way."
