"I had a fever of 40 degrees" - Did Movistar lie about Cian Uijtdebroeks health during the Tour de France?
Cycling
Cian Uijtdebroeks approaches Stage 3 of the Vuelta a España 2026 with doubts over his left ankle. The Belgian from Movistar Team crashed during Stage 2 and, although he finished 18 seconds behind the winner, Matthew Brennan, the physical impact has his team on alert.
Before the Stage 3 start, Uijtdebroeks explained how the incident happened and acknowledged there may be a small crack in the ankle. Initial X-rays taken in the race organization’s truck did not fully dispel the concerns.
“I had to change bikes because of a mechanical, and when I entered a roundabout the front wheel slipped and I slid across a strip of concrete,” the Belgian said in words to Het Nieuwsblad.
“There could be a small fracture”
The main concern is his left ankle. Uijtdebroeks underwent radiological tests immediately after the stage, though he noted the first images do not allow a definitive assessment of any bone injury.
“It’s hard to see with the fluid around it, but there could be a small fracture in my ankle. We’ll see. You never see much on those X-rays; maybe we’ll get checked in Andorra in the next few days to understand the real situation,” he said.
Uncertainty therefore hangs over the leader of the Movistar Team. The team had already reported abrasions and cuts on his right hip and knee, additional injuries to his left elbow and arm, and the blow to his left ankle.
Despite everything, the Belgian lined up for Stage 3. How he copes through the day will be key to assessing his ceiling in this race.
Cian Uijtdebroeks is one of Movistar's leaders for the Vuelta a España
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With memories of the Tour de France
The situation is all the more worrying after what happened at the recent Tour de France. Uijtdebroeks abandoned on Stage 6 following an illness that completely compromised his race. He has since explained he competed with a very high fever and that recovery took longer than expected.
“I had a fever of 40 degrees. During the Tour, I went to the hospital every day for checks, to see if there really was no risk to my heart.” At the time when asked, team DS Jurgen Roelandts said during the Tour that Uijtdebroeks' fever had reached 37.3 degrees (just under the 37.5-degree limit that was deemed safe).
Now, only a few weeks later, the Belgian faces another setback in a Grand Tour. This time a crash threatens to shape his Vuelta a España, though there is still no confirmation of a serious injury.
Uijtdebroeks is hopeful the pain will ease as the day goes on. “It hurts, of course, but I hope the pain drops a bit over the day,” he said.
The immediate goal is to see how the ankle responds during Stage 3. If the discomfort worsens or a fracture is confirmed, Uijtdebroeks’ future at La Vuelta could be in serious doubt. For now, though, the Belgian continues and hopes the crash proves only a scare.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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