“No one wanted to collaborate with me" - Cian Uijtdebroeks rues missed opportunity on stage 2 summit finish at Czech Tour 2025

Stage 2 of the 2025 Czech Tour threw down a fierce test on the iconic Dlouhé stráně climb, where Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Cian Uijtdebroeks lit up the finale with a gutsy attack. Yet despite showcasing his climbing strength and tactical intent, the Belgian ultimately rued a missed opportunity, settling for third as William Junior Lecerf and Alessandro Fancellu seized the day.

“No one wanted to collaborate with me,” Uijtdebroeks candidly admitted in a post-stage press release from the Visma team. His words lay bare the tactical stalemate that cost him a potentially race-defining victory. The steep but lengthy climb offered little shelter from the chasing group’s slipstream, making solo efforts brutally hard to sustain without allies.

The team had carefully orchestrated their approach. “We had a plan beforehand and we executed it fantastically,” Uijtdebroeks explained. “Thomas Gloag set a steady pace early on, and William Smith made a tremendous effort to launch me.”

When Uijtdebroeks attacked, he immediately opened a gap — a move that shook up the front. But his isolation proved costly as the group's reluctance to work together allowed rivals to cling on.

Despite pulling back earlier attacks, including that of Fancellu, Uijtdebroeks was unable to shake his competitors. With no collaboration forthcoming, the final surge saw Lecerf power past him in the closing meters. “The climb wasn’t steep enough to drop the others,” he reflected. “It was long, and when you’re out front alone, the advantage shifts to those in the slipstream.”

Though frustration lingered over the missed chance, Uijtdebroeks remained upbeat about his form and his squad’s strength. “We showed how strong we are as a team today. I’m feeling positive about the coming days,” he said, eyes already on Sunday’s steeper climb — a terrain more suited to his skill set and the team’s collective climbing power.

Tomorrow’s sprinter-friendly stage offers a breather, but the GC battle remains very much alive. Uijtdebroeks’ candid post-stage reflection underscores the fine margins at play in pro cycling, where tactical collaboration can make or break ambitions.