“This is his last chance… If it doesn't work he’ll be riding for Flanders-Baloise or Tietema” – Cian Uijtdebroeks handed ‘now or never’ warning after Movistar move

Cian Uijtdebroeks has not even raced yet in Movistar Team colours, and already the stakes around his transfer could hardly be higher. Ahead of his 2026 debut in Valencia, a blunt verdict has cut through the optimism that usually surrounds a fresh start.

“This is really his last chance. His last chance to become a top rider. If this does not work, then in a few years he will be riding for Flanders-Baloise, or for Tietema,” said Bobbie Traksel on the Kop over Kop podcast, framing Uijtdebroeks’ move not as a clean slate, but as a moment of reckoning.

The Belgian did not leave Visma quietly or accidentally. He broke his contract early because he wanted certainty, leadership and a path towards Grand Tours. At Visma, that path was no longer guaranteed. At Movistar, it is central to the plan, with his Tour de France debut already locked in for this summer.

But according to the analysis aired on Kop over Kop, that freedom comes with a price.

Movistar’s commitment to Uijtdebroeks has been total. “They have put everything on Uijtdebroeks. The pressure has only increased. This was the only team he could go to, this was the only option. Here he gets the freedom, here he can do his own thing a bit. And then we will see what it becomes.”

That freedom is exactly what Uijtdebroeks wanted when he chose to leave one of the most structured teams in the peloton. He has said himself that following his heart meant chasing Grand Tours and general classification ambitions, even if that meant taking risks.

But his character, not just his legs, is now under scrutiny. “He has to stop with that laughing. He gives really nice interviews. We all like it, but because of that it also became a bit of a joke around him.”

That reputation, it was claimed, even played a role earlier in his career. “That is also the reason why a little bullying group arose at BORA-hansgrohe, which eventually meant he had to leave. At Visma, he also wants to do his own thing and not fall in line.”

Uijtdebroeks has never lacked talent. He announced himself to the wider world by winning the Tour de l’Avenir as a teenager, then backed it up with an impressive top ten overall at the Vuelta a Espana at just 20. His first Giro d’Italia as a GC rider showed similar promise before illness forced him out while still high on the general classification.

Those flashes are why Movistar moved quickly when he became available. They signed him long-term, not as a helper, but as a rider they believe can one day lead them in Grand Tours.

Uijtdebroeks himself has never hidden what he wants. “If I have to follow my heart, I want to ride the Grand Tours and compete for the GC. That is also my ambition for the coming years,” he said when explaining why he chose this path.

That ambition is now non-negotiable. According to Traksel, blending in is no longer an option. “He could also have fallen in line at Visma and ridden on the front for Vingegaard. Or done exactly what Wout van Aert asks. He says: ‘I’m not doing that. This is my path.’ … I also think he deserves respect for daring to take these risks.”

His new story begins on 4 February at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, a race with a time trial and tough mountain stages, and a start list strong enough to offer immediate perspective on where he stands.

Later in the spring come Itzulia, La Fleche Wallonne and Liege Bastogne Liege, before the biggest milestone of all: his first Tour de France.

For Uijtdebroeks, this is not just another transfer. It is a bet on himself, his vision and his willingness to swim against the current.

But the warning now hanging over his season is clear. This is not just about becoming good. It is about proving he belongs at the top at all. If Movistar works, the path he chose will look brave. If it does not, that verdict will follow him for a long time.