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

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.”