In his young cycling career, Rune Herregodts already won the Ronde van Drenthe and a stage in the Ruta del Sol, but is also active next to the bike. Last spring he applied for the Sporza Wielermanager, but now he is participating again.
“In the spring I started putting together a team, but I didn’t come up with a team that I was satisfied with, so I gave up quickly. Now I almost succeeded.”
“I’m still shifting a bit. I have to find two more riders, including someone of three million.”
Presumably that will be three million someone from Israel-Premier Tech. “With the cheap riders you have to look for riders who can take their own chance. I am thinking, for example, of Hugo Houle or Krists Neilands,” says Herregodts.
Rune Herregodts: “In the Dauphiné it sometimes seemed that Vingegaard had to hold back for Roglic.”
Ben O’Connor is very consistent, and by regularly finishing in the top 10 you can collect a lot of points.
As far as the more expensive riders are concerned, Herregodts goes for logical choices such as Pogacar and Van Aert, but he has no place for Roglic. The young rider of Sport Vlaanderen prefers the Danish co-leader of Jumbo-Visma.
“You have to try to make a difference somewhere, of course. In the Dauphiné, Vingegaard was really good uphill, it sometimes seemed that he had to hold back for Roglic. And he proved last year that he can handle three weeks.”
“I also choose Ben O’Connor and Geraint Thomas. Both were good in the preparation races. O’Connor is very consistent anyway, and by regularly finishing in the top 10 you can collect a lot of points.”
“Thomas is less consistent, but he can rise above himself. I think he is a candidate for the podium.”
Herregodts: “Geraint Thomas can rise above himself. He is a candidate for the podium.”
In the pure sprints, Jakobsen offers the greatest certainty of one or two stage victories.
Philipsen and Jakobsen for the sprints
For the sprinters, Herregodts mainly looks to the Low Countries.
“I saw Jasper Philipsen in action at the Belgian Championships and the Tour of Belgium. He drives around really well. On this course, he can also use the half sprint opportunities with his condition.”
“For the real sprints, Fabio Jakobsen offers the greatest certainty of one or two stage wins, especially given his good lead-out. He may be slightly more expensive than other sprinters, but I think he is worth it.”
Herregodts has also chosen a lot of attackers in his team. “There are many stages where I think the flight will go to the finish. Quinn Simmons for example. He has already won two mountain classifications this year and will regularly participate in the flight.”
To join a mini-competition, the young Belgian waits until his team is completely ready. “First I want to make sure I have a good team, only then will I see which mini competition I can join.”
“In any case, I’m not going to brag too much to my friends if I win, because there is always a portion of luck involved. So next time it could just be the other way around,” Herregodts concludes.
Listen to the second episode of Kopman here:
