"The atmosphere here is more southern and warm": cian Uijtdebroeks enjoys a change of pace after leaving Visma

Cian Uijtdebroeks is entering the final stretch of his recovery from the elbow fracture he suffered at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026, an injury that abruptly halted his Movistar Team debut. The 23-year-old Belgian crashed on stage 3 and was forced to abandon, then focused on regaining sensations to return to racing as soon as possible.

His season start has therefore been conditioned by this setback. After leaving Visma | Lease a Bike to begin a new chapter with the Spanish squad, he had hoped for a more continuous run of racing. However, the incident in early February forced a rethink of his programme, also ruling him out of a key target such as Paris–Nice.

Uijtdebroeks himself outlined the recovery process to La Dernière Heure: "Especially during the first two weeks, I couldn’t do much. It wasn’t until about ten days later that I could get back on the turbo. I’ve already managed a few outdoor rides, which helps."

During that spell without normal training, he accepted that his condition would dip, though he believes his winter groundwork limited the damage: "It’s inevitable when you don’t ride for ten days. But I was lucky to have built a very solid base over the winter, so I didn’t lose much."

As mentioned, the injury also cost him Paris–Nice, a race circled in red on his schedule, in particular for its demanding parcours and the presence of a team time trial - a key factor of the 2026 Tour de France. Even so, the Belgian is keeping perspective and thinking about the long arc of the season.

"I was really keen to test myself on that route. It would have been a good dress rehearsal for the team time trial. The Tour de France starts with a similar stage in Barcelona. But it’s not a disaster; the season is still long and there’s also a team time trial at the Dauphiné."

If all goes to plan, he will return to competition at Milano-Torino in less than two weeks, before tackling one of his first major goals: the Volta a Catalunya. There he will face some of the biggest names in the peloton, such as Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard, and João Almeida, and it will also serve as preparation for the Ardennes.

Uijtdebroeks is clear about his main target in that phase of the season, where he will take on Tadej Pogacar. "I want to hit my best form for Liège–Bastogne–Liège. I also want to be strong at La Flèche Wallonne. My training plan is built around that."

Beyond performance, the Belgian also highlighted his smooth adaptation to Movistar Team after joining this winter. Compared to his previous team, he feels the environment is different and suits his personality.

"Unlike at Visma, the atmosphere here is more southern and warm. It’s a bit like Walloon hospitality. They take a holistic approach to performance, including mental well-being. I really appreciate that."

His integration has also been helped by relationships with teammates. "Lately I’ve spent a lot of time with Enric Mas at the physio and we’ve had plenty of conversations there. I also get along well with Spanish champion Iván Romeo, who lives near me. Luckily, my Spanish is improving."

As he nears full recovery, the young rider has even found a silver lining in the enforced break. "I can spend more time with my girlfriend. Last weekend, she baked a fantastic cake for my 23rd birthday," he concluded.