Belgian National Championships: Rune Herregodts clinches biggest victory of career as outsiders spark huge upset in elite men's road race

2026 Belgian National Championships: Rune Herregodts celebrates the biggest win of his career — (Image credit: Getty Images)

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A blisteringly fast and hugely unpredictable Belgian National elite men's road race saw UAE Team Emirates-XRG racer Rune Herregodts outsmart the top favourites for the biggest victory of his career.

Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech) was second across the line at the end of an ultra-flat course where the sprinters like Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) were foiled by a mass break of some 60 riders in the first hour, with Fabio Van Den Bossche (Soudal-QuickStep) in third.

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After testing the waters with 3.5 kilometres to go, the 27-year-old then positioned himself perfectly for a sprint where his hypothetically stronger rivals should have been able to beat him comfortably, and that proved just enough to clinch the day's victory.

"I still can't believe it," Herregodts told Belgian television afterwards about his completely unexpected but faultlessly forged success.

"I felt ambitious, but avoiding a sprint seemed impossible. When I missed the main group, I thought it was over."

"Then I pushed myself harder and it turned into a criterium race. It took some getting used to riding for myself, but I had incredible legs today."

The absence of Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull–Bora-Hansgrohe) created a wide-open race on a flat course from Antwerp to Brasschaat, even if the sprinters were expected to dominate. Yet more missing men included Jasper Philipsen's right-hand man Gerbe Thijssen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), and stage racers like Maxim van Gils (Lotto-Intermarché), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Movistar), and Junior Lecerf (Soudal-QuickStep) were also absent from a course that did them no favours.

An ultra-fast first part of the course, with an average speed of over 50kmh for the first hour, made for both no breaks and a lot of sore legs, but perhaps with such a great opportunity for the sprinters, that iron control by teams like Alpecin was only to be expected. Abruptly, though, the scenario changed in an almost definitive way, as their control crumbled and no less than 28 riders suddenly went clear. Containing four riders apiece for Soudal-QuickStep and Lotto-Intermarché, not to mention three for Alpecin-Premier Tech and at least one rider from Lidl-Trek, Decathlon CMA CGM and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, it was difficult to see who would want to pull such a major move back.

Things grew even tougher for the sprinters when another 33 riders joined the 28 ahead, including members of UAE Team Emirates-XRG like Herregodts, as well as Cofidis. By now, the remnants of the peloton were at 4:00 and after a second hour run off at over 53 kilometres, after an opening segment where it seemed the sprinter's teams had had the upper hand, suddenly the boot was very much on the mass breakaway's foot.

The breathless pace continued despite several attacks. There had been little to no mention of Jasper Philipsen or Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) on race radio and it seemed like the game was over before it had really begun for the sprinters. Then, when it emerged that they were in a bunch six minutes down, that theory was amply confirmed. The third hour of racing flashed by at an almost equally fast pace, too, averaging just over 50.6kmh.

As the penny dropped amongst the 60+ leaders that the race was in their hands, cohesion all but collapsed, and so it was that a third of their number managed to bludgeon their way clear. The media was quickly talking about the fact that Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) was present in the 20-strong group ahead, and yet again, collaboration proved to be at a minimum, allowing riders like Herregodts to test the water.

Eventually, Herregodts' repeated moves saw the talented time triallist and nine other riders go clear - Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto-Intermarché), Gil Gelders and Fabio van den Bossche (both Soudal-Quick Step), Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Nys, Dries De Bondt (Jayco-AlUla), Quinten Hermans (Pinarello-Q36.5), Michiel Coppens (BEAT) and, despite crashing earlier, Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

Into the final lap, and Rickaert made his move, with only Van den Bossche and the irrepressible Herregodts the only ones able to make it across. Nys did his utmost to chase them down, but the trio succeeded in opening a gap of some 40 seconds. Van den Bossche was on paper the fastest, but at the end of such a long, fast race, anything could happen.

Herregodts ensured the pace was kept as high as possible, and despite using up so much energy, still had the strength to keep on top of the situation. As Sporza observed on their live updates of the race, for all three of the riders ahead, a National Champion's jersey would be a game-changer in their career, and yet with Nys and co. still less than a minute behind, there was no time for too much strategic planning.

Finally, though, Herregodts played it perfectly and kept the coolest of heads, challenging once to see who was the strongest of his rivals in the last five kilometres, then playing a blinder in the final sprint for the line. It had been one of the most unusual of National Championships, yet nobody could fault the way it was won.

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Pos	Rider	Time
1	Rune Herregodts (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG	04:49:32
2	Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	00:00:00
3	Fabio van den Bossche (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:00:00
4	Quinten Hermans (Bel) Pinarello-Q36.5	00:00:40
5	Thibau Nys (Bel) Lidl-Trek	00:00:40
6	Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:00:40
7	Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe	00:00:46
8	Gil Gelders (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:00:46
9	Dries de Bondt (Bel) Jayco-AlUla	00:00:51
10	Michiel Coppens (Bel) Beat Cc P/B Saxo	00:00:52
11	Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Pinarello-Q36.5	00:01:03
12	Stan van Tricht (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team	00:01:03
13	Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Cofidis	00:01:03
14	Jules Hesters (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:01:03
15	Vlad van Mechelen (Bel) Bahrain Victorious	00:01:03
16	Liam Slock (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:01:03
17	Luca van Boven (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:01:03
18	Dries van Gestel (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:01:03
19	Lennert Teugels (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:01:03
20	Cedric Beullens (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:01:03
21	Jonas Geens (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	00:01:03
22	Sébastien Grignard (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:01:03
23	Olivier Godfroid (Bel) Baloise Verzekeringen -Het Poetsbureau Lions	00:01:03
24	Brem Deman (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:01:06
25	Milan Lanhove (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:01:06
26	Leander van Hautegem (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:01:06
27	Edward Planckaert (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	00:01:06
28	Abram Stockman (Bel) Unibet Rose Rockets	00:01:13
29	Bert van Lerberghe (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:01:13
30	Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Lidl-Trek	00:01:18
31	Artuur Torney (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:03:06
32	Nolan Huysmans (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:03:06
33	Mathis Avondts (Bel) Azerion / Villa Valkenburg	00:03:06
34	Ceriel Desal (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team	00:03:06
35	Jelle Vermoote (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:03:06
36	Joppe Sterck (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:03:06
37	Jarno Bellens (Bel) Baloise Verzekeringen -Het Poetsbureau Lions	00:03:06
38	Johan Meens (Bel) Aarco	00:03:06
39	Lorenz van de Wynkele (Bel) Lotto - Groupe Wanty	00:03:06
40	Noah Brits (Bel) Benediction Banafrica Team	00:03:06
41	Ward Vanhoof (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:03:06
42	Michiel Lambrecht (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:03:06
43	Robin Orins (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:03:08
44	Oliver Naesen (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM	00:03:08
45	Toon Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:03:10
46	Robbe Ghys (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM	00:03:10
47	Milan Fretin (Bel) Cofidis	00:03:10
48	Yves Lampaert (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:03:12
49	Louis Vervaeke (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:03:12
50	Niels Vandeputte (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team	00:03:12
51	Jonathan Vervenne (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:03:12
52	Steff Cras (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:03:12
53	Joran Wyseure (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team	00:03:12
54	Brent van Moer (Bel) Pinarello-Q36.5	00:03:12
55	Ilan van Wilder (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:03:12
56	Emiel Verstrynge (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	00:03:12
57	Toon Vandebosch (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team	00:03:15
58	Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team	00:03:15
59	Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis	00:03:15
60	Jenno Berckmoes (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:03:20
61	Ramses Debruyne (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	00:03:20
62	Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:03:22
63	Alec Segaert (Bel) Bahrain Victorious	00:03:24
64	Sander de Pestel (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM	00:03:24
65	Simon Dehairs (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	00:03:24
66	Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Visma-Lease a Bike	00:03:25
67	Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG	00:03:25
68	Steffen de Schuyteneer (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:03:33
69	Aime de Gendt (Bel) Pinarello-Q36.5	00:03:35
70	Elias Vanheel (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:08:12
71	Tom van Asbroeck (Bel) NSN Cycling Team	00:08:19
72	Alex Vandenbulcke (Bel) Huansheng-Vonoa-Taishan Sport Team	00:08:19
73	Timothy Dupont (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:08:19
74	Julien Vermote (Bel)	00:08:19
75	Robbe Mellaerts (Bel) Baloise Verzekeringen -Het Poetsbureau Lions	00:08:19
76	Sander Inion (Bel) Madar Pro Cycling Team	00:08:19
77	Enrico Dhaeye (Bel) Atom 6 Bikes - Cycleur De Luxe - Auto Stroo Team	00:08:19
78	Joes Oosterlinck (Bel) Van Rysel Roubaix	00:08:19
79	Zeno Moonen (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:08:19
80	Floris van Tricht (Bel) NSN Cycling Team	00:08:19
81	Simon Goossens (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team	00:08:19
82	Senne Thonnon (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:08:19
83	Elias Maris (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:08:19
84	Victor Vercouillie (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:08:19
85	Gianni Marchand (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:08:19
86	Milan Menten (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:08:19
87	Arnaud de Lie (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:08:19
88	Arne Marit (Bel) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe	00:08:19
89	Jordi Meeus (Bel) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe	00:08:19
90	Laurens Huys (Bel) Nice Metropole Cote D'Azur	00:08:19
91	Ferre Geeraerts (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:08:19
92	Joppe Heremans (Bel) Van Rysel Roubaix	00:08:19
93	Arne Baers (Bel) Baloise Verzekeringen -Het Poetsbureau Lions	00:08:19
94	Robbe Claeys (Bel) Volkerwessels	00:08:19
95	Tim Rex (Bel) Visma-Lease a Bike	00:08:19
96	Lennert Belmans (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	00:08:19
97	Axandre van Petegem (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex	00:08:19
98	Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:08:19
99	Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	00:08:19
100	Dylan Vandenstorme (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:08:19
101	Harm Vanhoucke (Bel) Pinarello-Q36.5	00:08:19
102	Stan Dewulf (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM	00:08:19
103	Victor van de Putte (Bel) Lotto - Groupe Wanty	00:08:19
104	Tom Crabbe (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	00:08:19
105	Gerben Kuypers (Bel)	00:08:19
106	Jasper de Buyst (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:08:19
107	Lars Craps (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	00:08:19
108	Edward Theuns (Bel) Lidl-Trek	00:08:31
DNF	Jonathan Kerkhofs (Bel) Universe Cycling Team	Row 108 - Cell 2
DNF	Sam van de Mieroop (Bel) Universe Cycling Team	Row 109 - Cell 2
DNF	Vito Braet (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché	Row 110 - Cell 2
DNF	Théo Demarcin (Bel) Color Code-Alu Center	Row 111 - Cell 2
DNF	Lucas Jacques (Bel) Color Code-Alu Center	Row 112 - Cell 2
DNF	Julien Desmarets (Bel) Color Code-Alu Center	Row 113 - Cell 2
DNF	Kenny Molly (Bel) Van Rysel Roubaix	Row 114 - Cell 2
DNF	Ayco Bastiaens (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep	Row 115 - Cell 2
DNF	Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel)	Row 116 - Cell 2
DNF	Witse Meeussen (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team	Row 117 - Cell 2
DNF	Tuur Dens (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	Row 118 - Cell 2
DNF	Vincent van Hemelen (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	Row 119 - Cell 2
DNF	Kamiel Bonneu (Bel) Solution Tech Nippo Rali	Row 120 - Cell 2
DNF	Michiel Hillen (Bel) Baloise Verzekeringen -Het Poetsbureau Lions	Row 121 - Cell 2
DNF	Aaron Dockx (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	Row 122 - Cell 2
DNF	Thibaut Bernard (Bel) Lotto - Groupe Wanty	Row 123 - Cell 2
DNF	Jente Michels (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team	Row 124 - Cell 2
DNF	Lindsay de Vylder (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	Row 125 - Cell 2
DNF	Daan Depuydt (Bel) Baloise Verzekeringen -Het Poetsbureau Lions	Row 126 - Cell 2
DNF	Milan van den Haute (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise	Row 127 - Cell 2
DNF	Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel) Baloise Verzekeringen -Het Poetsbureau Lions	Row 128 - Cell 2
DNF	Jelle Roelandt (Bel) Benediction Banafrica Team	Row 129 - Cell 2
DNF	Glen van Nuffelen (Bel) Benediction Banafrica Team	Row 130 - Cell 2
DNF	Brian Rigole (Bel) Atom 6 Bikes - Cycleur De Luxe - Auto Stroo Team	Row 131 - Cell 2
DNF	Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech	Row 132 - Cell 2
DNS	Dylan Teuns (Bel) Cofidis	Row 133 - Cell 2
DNS	Jerome Raus (Bel) Avc Aix Provence Dole	Row 134 - Cell 2
DNS	Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG	Row 135 - Cell 2
DNS	Amaury Capiot (Bel) Jayco-AlUla	Row 136 - Cell 2

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The Independent, The Guardian, ProCycling, The Express and Reuters.

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