"If I keep the legs I have in recent days, I am confident that I can hold on to my place" - Cian Uijtdebroeks aiming for Vuelta top-10

Cian Uijtdebroeks' fledgling career has taken another impressive step at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana as the 20-year-old sits 9th in the general classification as the race reaches the second rest day at his debut Grand Tour.

"My body still feels good. I can feel that I have been racing for weeks. My muscles are tired, but especially after the Pyrenees I still feel fairly fresh," the Belgian of BORA - hansgrohe tells Sporza in a rest day interview. "Normally the Vuelta is relaxed, but now a lot has happened. Rain, fans, a fall, pain in my bottom and some illnesses."

Uijtdebroeks has long been tipped as a future star of Belgian cycling and won the Tour de l'Avenir in 2022. The Vuelta a Espana is a clear step up though. "It hasn't been the easiest Grand Tour, but that's not bad either. I'm learning a lot from this and that also gives a lot of confidence for the future if you've already experienced something like that," he explains. "If I went for a classification next year or in 2 years and ended up in such a situation for the first time, it would be much worse. Now it will make me more relaxed in case it happens again. Keep calm, That has already taught me the most."

After the stage 13 collapse of Remco Evenepoel, Uijtdebroeks is now the best-placed Belgian in the general classification. "I haven't spoken to him since. When I appeared at the front after the start, he had already left in the break. I just haven't been able to talk to him. I wanted to, but I haven't seen him. It's that honest," he says of his compatriot.

But what of Uijtdebroeks goals for the remainder of the Vuelta? "Of course, a stage win is also nice, but in my position that is virtually impossible. They don't let me go in a break, so the classification is a priority. But if things are disappointing, I would rather lose 30' in one go than 10' so that I can pick up something later," he says.  "If I keep the legs I have in recent days, I am confident that I can hold on to my place. Otherwise we will just have to learn from it. Top 10 would be amazing."