“Even more important for the Tour de France” - Cian Uijtdebroeks encouraged as Movistar turn Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes TTT into July test

Cian Uijtdebroeks left the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes team time trial with more than a useful result for Movistar Team. For the Belgian, stage 3 was also a valuable rehearsal for the discipline that will help shape the opening weekend of the Tour de France.

Movistar finished seventh in the 28.4-kilometre test around Perreux, keeping Uijtdebroeks within reach of several general classification rivals after the first direct time-trial test of the week. It was not a ride that changed the top of the race in the way Visma, Netcompany INEOS or EF Education - EasyPost did, but it still gave Movistar an important reference point ahead of July.

Speaking afterwards in conversation with Cycling Pro Net, Uijtdebroeks admitted Movistar had not started the day with total certainty over what to expect, especially after Diego Pescador was already out of the race.

“Of course. I’m super happy, super happy,” Uijtdebroeks said. “We didn’t know 100% what to expect because, with Diego already out this morning as well, we had one guy fewer who could have been important on the climbs.”

The course was not a flat power test. With climbing sections and an uphill finish, the stage placed a premium on balance, communication and keeping the right riders together deep into the effort.

For Uijtdebroeks, Movistar handled that challenge well. He praised the collective structure of the ride, with Pablo Castrillo and Ivan Romeo playing important roles on the faster sections before he emptied himself on the final climb. “We gave everything and stayed super united,” he said. “The guys did an incredible job on the flat parts.”

He then singled out two teammates for their work. “Especially Pablo Castrillo, who was flying super strong, and also Ivan Romeo,” Uijtdebroeks added. “Then I had to give everything on the final climb. And yes, we’re super happy to have achieved that time.”

The result moved Uijtdebroeks to 15th overall, 1:07 behind Alex Baudin, after a stage that tightened the top of the general classification. Baudin kept yellow, Kevin Vauquelin and Oscar Onley moved to within 12 seconds, while Matteo Jorgenson closed to 15 seconds after Visma’s stage win.

For Movistar, the significance was broader than one result in June. “It’s super important for this race this week, but even more important for the Tour,” Uijtdebroeks said.

That Tour de France link gives the ride extra weight. The 2026 Tour opens with a team time trial in Barcelona, making every competitive rehearsal valuable for teams still refining equipment, pacing and internal roles.

Uijtdebroeks has had limited recent experience in the discipline, which made the Perreux test even more useful. “For me as well, I haven’t done a team time trial since the 2023 Vuelta, which wasn’t really a team time trial like this. So it’s also a learning experience for me,” he said. "I missed the one at Paris-Nice, but it’s very good to have this one.”

The Belgian also sees value in a route that finishes uphill, with that kind of finale often suiting GC riders more than pure time-trial specialists. “If the finish is uphill, I think it’s always good for the GC riders,” he said.

Movistar did not leave stage 3 with the victory or the yellow jersey, but that was not the only measure of the day. For Uijtdebroeks, it was a controlled result in the present and a useful step towards the team time trial that will carry even more weight in Barcelona.