"Eighth place in the Vuelta will be his best final position in a Grand Tour" - Serious concerns raised over Cian Uijtdebroeks
Cycling
Cian Uijtdebroeks time at Team Visma | Lease a Bike is still yet to really get off the ground. Following his controversial move from BORA ahead of the start of the 2024 season, the Belgian has seen any momentum built up consistently scuppered by a feeling of dead legs. It was thought that the worst of the issue was over, but at Tirreno-Adriatico last week, the feeling returned with a vengeance.
Although many viewed Uijtdebroeks as a potential Grand Tour winner of the future not so long ago, in his two three-week stage races since joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike, both the 2024 Giro d'Italia and the 2024 Vuelta a Espana have ended with a DNF for the Belgian. As such, there is growing concern surrounding the future of the 22-year-old former Tour de l'Avenir winner.
As it turns out though, this worry over Uijdebroeks ceiling is not a completely new phenomenon. "I'm going back a year and a few months. I had written a column that I thought it was scandalous how BORA had treated Cian. At a meeting, a scout came up to me and said: 'Just make a note that that eighth place in the Vuelta (2023 ed.) will be his best final position in a Grand Tour ever,'" recalls Belgian cycling expert Michel Wuyts on the latest episode of his Wuyts & Vlaeminck podcast.
"I am starting to think about that now. I am not writing him off, but there must have been a problem at BORA that caused doubts. That seems like a logical conclusion to me, because why else would you say something like that?" Wuyts continues, admitting no further elaboration was given to him by the mysterious scout at the time. "It could be a bit of revenge, but it could also be true. Let's hope not."
Following his Tirreno-Adriatico abandon, Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Maarten Wynants spoke on Uijtdebroeks condition. "His morale is below zero now, that's normal," Wynants told Sporza. "Today it didn't work out again, so it's far from all sweetness and light. He's having back problems again, but for the rest, it's hard to put your finger on the problem. First, we have to wash away this disappointment and then look further."
Team Visma | Lease a Bike boss Richard Plugge however, is keen to reduce any fears. "Cian still has to grow, and that takes time," Plugge added. "We are known for making riders better, and with him too, we will grow step by step to a higher level. He needs the time that everyone needs at that age."
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The pressure of being considered a team leader has to get in the way of his development to a degree. He seems to be good physically but maybe there is a mental thing. I don't know, give him some time to grow a bit.
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- How many grand tours did Vlaeminck enter/finish let alone win? This article gives "old man yells at cloud" vibesPedalmasher28-03-2025
- I think Hinault is right: Pogacar is the first rider since he and Merckx who can win such a wide variety of races with such audacity and verve. I hope by the time he is done, Pog is widely acknowledged at the greatest of all time. Unlike Merckx and Hinault who were (probably necessarily in their era) pretty unpleasant characters, Pog is a cool, refreshingly humble guy who routinely thanks his teammates after they've taken their last bleedout pull for the day, gives bottles to little kids in the middle of a solo breakaway, walks around and congratulates his competitors at the finish, win or lose. There will always be those within the peloton and fanbase who resent his success, but he seems genuinely well-liked. He seems like the antidote to past other dominant champions who still inspire bitterness or disappointment. That said, Paris-Roubaix is a race that is both dangerous and requires a lot of specialized experience. I hope he stays upright.
Barney28-03-2025 - The only one that can make it happen is the rider himself. I was just happy to hear some words of encouragement rather than another old man shouting 'get off of my lawn' moment.
santiagobenites28-03-2025 - Agree, but just putting it in his head isn’t going to make it happen, or did he doubt himself too much during his 5 MSR attempts? Didn’t look like it.Jumpyjohn28-03-2025
- Marketing for dummiesJumpyjohn28-03-2025
- It's very refreshing and a welcome change of pace to hear a legend from the past share some positive and encouraging words to the now generation for a change. Thank you, Bernard Hinault.santiagobenites28-03-2025
- And you know this how? Proof?frieders328-03-2025
- This guy lives his live in the past, must be fun for his grandkids.JoostMehrtens27-03-2025
- It’s also no longer allowed. It was crazy back then, almost 200 race days in a year sometimes.Mistermaumau27-03-2025
- Well said. It’s tough to compare across erasmobk27-03-2025