"That was my goal: to learn how to win." - Cian Uijtdebroeks takes first pro win with a 50-kilometer solo attack
Cycling
Cian Uijtdebroeks is only 22 years old but has already experienced very different phases in his career. This Friday a new one officially started as the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider took his first pro win, and couldn't have done it in better style.
The Belgian rider was a member of the BORA - hansgrohe when he turned pro and due to his immense potential, he was part of a very controversial move at the end of 2023 as he broke out of his contract to join the Visma team. Whilst the collaboration started well, in mid-2024 the tables were turned as he began experienced back issues.
These have kept him away from his best level for over a year, and Uijtdebroeks has barely been able to obtain results since the 2024 Giro. This year he has had many ups and downs - mostly downs - and on his way to recovery from the back problems he was hit by a car in June, effectively missing out on almost four months of competition. He resumed racing at the Clásica San Sebastián where he looked strong, but in France he truly showed his best level.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team. We may not have done everything perfectly, but we gave it our all for three straight days. In the end, Cian finished it off in spectacular fashion, and he truly deserves it after the difficult months he’s had," team DS Robert Wagner said in a press release. "I’m very pleased".
Visma had the numbers but hadn't been able to hit Nicolas Prodhomme who went into the final stage in the yellow jersey. Despite destroying the race and having three riders in a group of six into the ascent of the Grand Colombier, the team put it's trust in the Belgian to make the difference. And he did, attacking and dropping the yellow jersey with 51 kilometers to go, and then extending that lead all the way to the finish, having more than three minutes over his closest competitor in Belley.
“This is incredible. The past few months have been tough, so it feels amazing to come back like this," he described. "I was already feeling good in San Sebastián, but this is truly fantastic. It was a dream of mine to win a race this year. That was my goal: to learn how to win. To actually do it now is just amazing.”
The victory was followed with a lengthy celebration, much deserved many commented after all the setbacks he experienced. “The team was incredibly strong again today. On the penultimate climb, we pushed the pace hard, which left us with a small group going into the Colombier. Ben did a great job after that, setting things up so I could launch my attack and finish it off.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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