Valenciana injury continues to delay Cian Uijtdebroeks who could miss Paris–Nice in run-up for the Tour de France!
Cycling
Cian Uijtdebroeks was slated to debut at Paris–Nice this spring, but his start in the French race is in doubt after the injury he suffered in February. The young Belgian, a headline Movistar Team signing for 2026, was forced to abandon the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana after a crash on stage 3 that injured his left elbow.
Since then, he has managed only a few outdoor rides while recovery continues, so the team will wait a few more days before deciding if he can line up at the "Race to the Sun" starting on February 8th.
According to multiple reports, medical scans confirmed that Uijtdebroeks has a fissure in the head of the radius of his left arm, which requires a period of active rest. Although it was not initially considered a serious fracture, subsequent studies revealed a more complex injury than first thought, which could rule him out of Paris–Nice.
This race was set to be a first key test for the Belgian with his new Spanish team. The 2026 season was especially anticipated for Uijtdebroeks after signing for Movistar Team, where he committed through 2029 with the intention of targeting Grand Tours as leader or co-leader.
Chance to bounce back
The 23-year-old Belgian arrived from the powerful Visma | Lease a Bike after winning the Tour de l’Ain in 2025 and showing his potential in stage races. Before joining Movistar Team, Uijtdebroeks had also impressed at the Vuelta a España, where he finished 8th in 2023, a result that underlined his Grand Tour GC credentials.
His departure from Visma was seen as a chance to find an environment more suited to his ambitions of leading in three-week races, a role that was hard to secure at his former team due to strong internal competition. Even so, last season was not free of setbacks, with withdrawals due to illness and issues in 2024 that shaped parts of his programme.
Uijtdebroeks has already been involved in two high-profile transfers in his career
Paris–Nice, Catalunya or the Tour de France
Movistar expected Paris–Nice to be the first major exam for Uijtdebroeks within a schedule that also included the Volta a Catalunya, the Ardennes classics and, above all, the Tour de France, for which the Spanish team had earmarked him as one of its leaders, especially after announcing a reshuffle with Enric Mas focusing on the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.
If Paris–Nice proves premature given his condition and recovery, the Volta a Catalunya two weeks later could be the next chance for Uijtdebroeks to regain race rhythm and take on goals better aligned with his physical preparation.
Uijtdebroeks’ signing was one of the standout moves of the last WorldTour transfer window, and his arrival at Movistar Team sparked strong interest among fans and analysts given his profile as a well-rounded rider capable of fighting for Grand Tour general classifications.
Although the injury has clouded his start to the season, the team remains hopeful the Belgian can return to competition soon and meet the targets set for 2026. His progress over the coming weeks will decide whether he can make the Paris–Nice start or delay his return to top-level racing to later events such as the Catalan round or the Tour de France.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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