"I want to fight for Grand Tour GC – You can’t do that if you’re not riding them": Cian Uijtdebroeks explains reasoning behind surprise Visma exit

Movistar Team’s headline signing for 2026, Cian Uijtdebroeks, has finally lifted the lid on why he pushed for an unexpected move away from Visma after just one season.

Speaking to Sporza, the 22-year-old Belgian offered a candid explanation of his decision to leave one WorldTour giant in favour of another — and made it clear that his ambition to lead a team at a Grand Tour was at the heart of it.

Uijtdebroeks has been open about his long-term goal: targeting general classification at the biggest stage races on the calendar. And as he sees it, that simply wasn’t realistic at Visma given the depth of their roster. “In the end, my heart is in the Grand Tours — that’s where I want to fight for the GC. And you can’t do that if you’re not riding them. At Visma it would be very difficult because of the great riders they have,” he said.

His departure was also related with the exit of Merijn Zeeman — a figure Uijtdebroeks describes as “a bit of a mentor” — adding another layer to his desire for a change of environment.

Despite not yet being fluent in Spanish, Uijtdebroeks insists the transition has already been smoother than many expected.

“I speak it a little, but not very well yet. It will come. I’ve already tried Duolingo and I’m also taking online classes on Teams,” he explained. “Maybe people would expect me not to feel comfortable because I don’t master the language, but it was actually great. Somehow it felt like coming home. That was exactly what I was looking for in a team.”

What attracted him to Movistar was not just the opportunity for GC leadership, but a change in day-to-day atmosphere — something he believes will bring the best out of him.

“Look, I needed this freedom. Because I’m very strict and disciplined, a slightly more relaxed team suits me well. Sometimes it’s better to have someone nearby who tells you to ‘take it easy’. A bit like Alex does. That mentality suits me.”

For 2026, Uijtdebroeks says Movistar have offered him more creative control and a structure tailored to his development. “I’m very guided by the first conversation I have with a team. Here it was really very good, even without talking about ‘performance’,” he said.

“I have a lot of input and freedom in shaping my race programme. We’re still waiting a bit for the Giro route, but I’ll definitely be going for GC at one of the Grand Tours. Maybe they’ll need to convince me a little for the tough Tour route, but I’d be open to it. We’ll see. In any case, I’ll ride the Ardennes Classics.”

He also pushed back on the long-standing perception that Movistar operate with less modern structure than other WorldTour setups. “It’s often said that Movistar works in a less professional way. But I’ve seen they offer excellent support. No apps, but a very human approach. Everyone has a personal nutritionist. They contact me almost daily to fine-tune the planning.”

Uijtdebroeks arrives at Movistar with a huge spotlight on him after forcing a WorldTour exit for the second time in his young career. Now, with leadership expected and a Grand Tour campaign on the horizon, the pressure — and the opportunity — has never been greater.

Movistar believe he can deliver. Now it’s up to him to show he can lead one of cycling’s historic teams into a new era of GC ambition.