“I want to ride for GC” - Cian Uijtdebroeks explains shocking Visma separation

Earlier this month, cycling’s transfer market was shaken when Cian Uijtdebroeks announced he would be leaving Team Visma | Lease a Bike for Movistar Team in 2026. The news caught much of the cycling world off guard, not least because the young Belgian still had a contract with Visma running until the end of 2027. For one of the sport’s brightest young climbers, it was an unexpected twist, but as Uijtdebroeks explained before the start of Il Lombardia, it was a move driven by ambition rather than conflict.

“I want to ride for the GC in Grand Tours, and with Visma–Lease a Bike, that option was difficult,” he said to Sporza, outlining a clear desire for leadership. For a rider who has long been viewed as one of the peloton’s most promising stage racers, the decision reflects a calculated step toward a career goal that had grown out of reach within his current team.

“I think it was a surprise to everyone,” he laughed, acknowledging the shock the transfer caused. “My choice was mainly based on my schedule.” This season, Uijtdebroeks didn’t start a single Grand Tour — a frustration for a rider whose progress depends on learning the rhythm and endurance of three-week racing. “My goal is to race in the Grand Tour classifications,” he said. “But to learn that, you have to ride those races first. That option was difficult with Visma–Lease a Bike.”

At Movistar, he believes he will have the chance to grow in the way he wants. “At Movistar they are very motivated to guide me to the top,” he explained. For the Spanish team, which has long specialized in developing climbers and GC contenders, Uijtdebroeks represents the next generation, one capable of carrying their legacy beyond the eras of Alejandro Valverde and Enric Mas.

Today at Il Lombardia, he remained grounded about his expectations. “I want to compete with the best,” he said. “Behind the top favorite, there’s a very strong field that can fight for the podium, the top five, and the top ten. I’ll try to get the most out of it by following as long as possible and not blowing myself up.”

He joked about how difficult it has been to hang on to Tadej Pogacar’s wheel. “I’ve tried to join our great friend (Pogacar) a few times, but that hurt my legs,” he said, recalling the World Championships in Rwanda. Yet despite that honesty, there’s confidence too, an understanding that his time is coming. “The course definitely suits me with its long climbs. There could be surprises at the end of the season.”