Painkiller use under fire of Cian Uijtdebroeks: "I don't intend to undermine my long-term health for short-term performance"

BORA - hansgrohe's young talent Cian Uijtdebroeks is in his neo-pro season in the peloton, and very quickly he is learning the ropes within the peloton. That includes however a well-known use of legal painkillers, to which Uijtdebroeks was critical of.

"Everyone does what they want with that, but I don't intend to undermine my long-term health for short-term performance," he told Bahamontes magazine. With Guillaume Martin coming out against the use that has been seen in Tennis, the subject is once again hitting headlines as Uijtdebroeks was asked about their use in a recent interviews.

"If I am beaten by a rider who has taken three grams of paracetamol in the final, I will be frustrated. While it's perfectly legal, I'm not going to do it. Even if I lose a race because of this and if someone advises me to try it anyway, I will stick to my own plan," he added. Very much within a grey area, the use of substances for improvement of cycling performance is an ever-changing aspect of cycling and the Belgian made his point clear.

“Why would you take 2.5 grams of paracetamol in the final? You do that when you are sick, and then not in that amount," he pointed out - a point widely used by athletes who opt not to use such substances.

"I don't drink coffee, so a gel with caffeine has a huge impact on me. Will I use the amount of caffeine of two cups of coffee in course? Yes, because that sharpens my focus. But two cups and not fifteen. I'd rather eat twenty beetroots. I understand, but I pass. Don't forget: until recently I rode in the juniors on sugar and banana sandwiches," he concluded.