"I've improved in terms of data and values, such as my VO2 max" - Cian Uijtdebroeks pleased with his transfer to Visma | Lease a Bike

For Cian Uijtdebroeks, Tirreno-Adriatico is an important checkpoint in run-up to his big goal, the Giro d'Italia. The young Belgian, who switched from BORA - hansgrohe to Visma | Lease a Bike last winter, spoke to WielerFlits about the preparation he's undergoing in his new team.

"We didn't push to be top there yet, but we were where we wanted to be. Everything is more focused towards the end of March and the Giro," he emphasizes. "We are building our fitness step by step. Until then we had mainly focused on basic fitness."

"The new approach is paying off," Uijtdebroeks notes. "I've improved in terms of data and values, such as my VO2 max. We see a positive evolution. Now we have to see how that will be in competition. First I ride Tirreno-Adriatico, which is a test moment in time trial, and then the Volta a Catalunya."

"It is a different preparation, especially than in previous years," he admits. "But I hadn't raced that much before the Vuelta last year, so I like to focus purely on my fitness. Ultimately, a Giro is a blast for three weeks, so I think we should try it out. The team has proven that this way works. Primot Roglic had the same preparation last year."