This means competing against some prominent names like
Mark Cavendish,
Tim Merlier, Davide Formolo and Greg VanAvermaet. While acknowledging the prowess of the established cycling elites, he remains unwavering and sees them as a platform to prove himself and establish his place among them.
“Two years ago I was still watching those stars on TV. And this morning I suddenly found myself in the elevator with Cavendish. I don't think he knows me. Nobody knows me here. But now I'm competing with the same people I looked up to just a few years ago,” he said.
He expresses that while his objective is not clear, he has his sights set on classification, with the option of striving for stage victories. “I have a free role here. I'm trying to go for a ranking. If that doesn't work, then it's better to take eight minutes behind than three on the second day, because then you can take a shot at the stage victory on Green Mountain on the final day. But somehow I always have the classification in mind,” concluded Uijtdebroeks.