"We saw no good reason to continue" - Visma explains Cian Uijtdebroeks' Volta a Catalunya withdrawal

After impressive showings to start his Team Visma | Lease a Bike career at Gran Camino and Tirreno-Adriatico, Cian Uijtdebroeks wasn't on great form at the Volta a Catalunya last week, eventually withdrawing before stage 7. 

“Cian was no longer fully fit. He had stomach problems and could no longer eat. He himself would have liked to continue, but it was still a rather tough stage with several passages on Montjuïc," Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director, Marc Reef explains of the Belgian's decision to depart the race, in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad.

"We saw no good reason to continue," Reef elaborates further. "It's certainly not Cian's style to give up, so he really wasn't feeling well at all. Sometimes it's better to draw a line and start working to achieve the next goals."

As mentioned though, the 21-year-old Belgian has impressed in his first few months in his new surroundings. Next confirmed race for Uijtdebroeks is the Giro d'Italia where he will hold much of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's general classification hopes.