Belgian champion Rune Herregodts signs with Movistar

Belgian cyclist Rune Herregodts signed a three-year contract with Movistar after leaving UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The announcement was made public on November 6, 2026. Herregodts, 28, claimed the national road race title this year, surprising many by winning from a large breakaway that outpaced favorites like Jasper Philipsen on a mostly flat course around Antwerp. Notably, the race was held without several stars, including Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, and defending champion Tim Wellens.

In a press release, Herregodts expressed excitement about joining Movistar, stating, "From what I've seen so far, we are working in the right direction." He mentioned his hope for performance improvement and indicated that this environment would allow him to showcase his qualities, assist the team, and pursue opportunities during breakaways and in Classics. He looked forward to the upcoming season and felt confident that the collaboration would yield success.

Herregodts became the second Belgian rider on the Movistar team, joining Cian Uijtdebroeks, who moved from Visma-Lease a Bike to Movistar after the 2025 season. Herregodts also discussed his conversations with Uijtdebroeks, noting the latter's enthusiasm and reinforcing his belief that Movistar is a suitable place for his career development.

Starting his professional career with the Flanders-Baloise team in 2021, where he won the Ronde van Drenthe and a stage of the Ruta del Sol, Herregodts transitioned to the WorldTour with Intermarché in 2023. He achieved a notable victory at the ZLM Tour the following year. Although his time with UAE Team Emirates was not filled with multiple triumphs, he marked the Belgian title as a significant achievement in his career.

Sebastián Unzué, the Head of Sports at Movistar, commented on Herregodts' signing, stating, "Rune joins the team at a point of full maturity, with the experience and quality needed to contribute across different terrains. I am convinced that his arrival will bring great value to the group."

As the cycling road season came to an end, Cyclingnews continued to provide extensive coverage of the industry and looked forward to future developments.