Movistar Team has confirmed the signing of Belgian national champion Rune Herregodts on a three-year contract. The 28-year-old rider will join the Spanish team after securing the biggest victory of his career during the 2026 season.
Herregodts currently races for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. He made headlines this year by winning the Belgian national road race championship in a major surprise. His victory came after a large breakaway managed to stay ahead of the main group and defeat several expected contenders.
The race took place on a mostly flat course around Antwerp. Many observers expected the leading favourites to control the event, but the breakaway changed the outcome. Herregodts took advantage of the situation and secured the national title.
His win was especially notable because he defeated a field that included strong riders such as Jasper Philipsen. The result showed his ability to perform under pressure and make the most of a tactical opportunity.
Several major Belgian names were absent from the championship. Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, and defending champion Tim Wellens did not take part. Their absence changed the expected balance of the race, but the victory still represented a major achievement for Herregodts.
The national title gave the Belgian rider one of the most important results of his professional career. It also raised his profile ahead of the next stage of his career with Movistar.
The Spanish team has now secured his services for three seasons. The length of the agreement suggests that Movistar sees Herregodts as a useful addition to its long-term plans. His experience and recent success could provide the squad with another option for one-day races and demanding road events.
Herregodts has built his career through steady progress in professional cycling. His Belgian championship victory was a major breakthrough and demonstrated that he can compete for important results when the race develops in his favour.
The way he won also highlighted his tactical awareness. In a race where the main group failed to bring the breakaway back, he remained in a position to challenge for the title. He then converted that opportunity into a national championship.
For Movistar, the signing adds a rider who arrives with confidence after a significant personal achievement. Winning a national road race title can also bring extra attention and responsibility. Herregodts will now have the opportunity to build on that success with a new team.
The move also marks a change from his current position at UAE Team Emirates-XRG. He will leave the team after the 2026 season to begin his three-year agreement with Movistar.
The transfer comes after a season in which his name became more widely known among cycling followers. While the Belgian championship was his biggest victory, the performance also showed why teams may value riders who can read a race and respond quickly when the opportunity appears.
Movistar has not provided further details about his specific race calendar or role within the squad. However, the team will have a rider who has already shown he can take advantage of difficult race situations and deliver a major result.
Herregodts will now look to carry his national champion form into his next chapter. His three-year deal gives him time to settle into the Spanish squad and work toward further success in professional cycling.
