Cian Uijtdebroeks is enduring a Tour de France start well below expectations. The young Belgian from Movistar Team has struggled through the opening days, and the team confirmed on Monday the reason for his subdued form: a feverish illness that is completely compromising his performance.
The warning signs were there from day one. In the opening team time trial, Uijtdebroeks finished the stage suffering from severe cramps, already suggesting he was not at full fitness.
Things did not improve on stage 2. The Belgian conceded close to half a minute to the day’s winner, Isaac del Toro, losing valuable time on a stage where he had hoped to stay with the best.
Further problems arrived on stage 3. Uijtdebroeks began to lose contact early and crossed the line one minute behind the group led by Tadej Pogacar. Another setback that leaves him well adrift in the general classification.
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After just three stages, the Movistar Team rider sits far from his ambitions. He is 3:24 off the lead and already more than two minutes down on tenth overall, a target he and the team had set for this Tour.
Cian Uijtdebrokes at the 2026 Tour de France
Movistar Team outlines Cian’s issue
Amid concern over his form, Movistar Team issued a statement on their social channels to explain the Belgian’s situation.
"Cian Uijtdebroeks has been dealing since yesterday with a feverish process that has forced him to ride the last two stages far from his best condition. It is not the Tour de France start we expected, but Cian has the support of all his teammates and staff during these difficult days. The team will continue to monitor his evolution over the coming stages.”
Cian acknowledges his struggles
After stage 3, the Belgian admitted he is racing well below his best due to a fever. "If you’re not healthy, it’s hard. But I fought," he said.
Uijtdebroeks also confirmed he has a fever and hopes to recover quickly. "Yes, fever… That was yesterday. We’ll see. Can I keep riding? I hope so. We need to make sure I recover well and that everything is under control."
The rider further conceded he is not in a good place physically. "I don’t feel well and I’m a bit dizzy. Can I recover? Of course. Jonas rode the Giro with Covid and all that."
Finally, he acknowledged how hard it was to get through the day. "Today I pushed through, but it took a lot out of me. However, it also explains what has happened over the last few days."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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