Teams & Riders Cian Uijtdebroeks - From the wetlands to the top of cycling

[Berniece]

He did very well in one day races before he turned pro. If the race is long and hard enough, he might rise to the surface. When other guys have lost most of their punch. If your comment is about the WCC... he could do very well as a domestique.

Maybe he rides Lombardia, would be a good test. Harder than San Sebastian, longer climbs too

 

[Valv.Piti]

Imagine if Remco had that problem while at QS. Turns out its not only QS, but also the super teams making amateurish mistakes!

But really, the end of season schedule is just a big mess. Its not only that there really arent any decent stage races for climber types if you're not going to the Vuelta basically after this week where there are lots of great opportunities admitedly.. its also for the strong classic guys like MVDP and WVA if the Worlds route aint suiting their characteristics. Like really, what are those guys peaking for? You have some nice hilly classics from San Sebastian over Bretagne to Canada, but it quickly gets a bit too hard for the cobbled classics guys, and even more for the likes of Emilia, Tre Valli and Lombardia. I guess you have Eneco Tour, but most people really don't care about that race. What happened to Paris-Tours is a shame, just make it WT to people at least will care a bit more for it. But I guess the Ardennes type of riders like it, there are just a bunch of different races that they can target after TdF, especially seeing that Worlds are often suiting their characteristics as well.

 

[hayneplane]

Imagine if Remco had that problem while at QS. Turns out its not only QS, but also the super teams making amateurish mistakes!

But really, the end of season schedule is just a big mess. Its not only that there really arent any decent stage races for climber types if you're not going to the Vuelta basically after this week where there are lots of great opportunities admitedly.. its also for the strong classic guys like MVDP and WVA if the Worlds route aint suiting their characteristics. Like really, what are those guys peaking for? You have some nice hilly classics from San Sebastian over Bretagne to Canada, but it quickly gets a bit too hard for the cobbled classics guys, and even more for the likes of Emilia, Tre Valli and Lombardia. I guess you have Eneco Tour, but most people really don't care about that race. What happened to Paris-Tours is a shame, just make it WT to people at least will care a bit more for it. But I guess the Ardennes type of riders like it, there are just a bunch of different races that they can target after TdF, especially seeing that Worlds are often suiting their characteristics as well.

I can see your point but to counter it I would argue that the cobbled riders get the star billing in the Spring Classics period to the point where the Ardennes are almost an afterthought at times so it’s only fair that in the Autumn it’s the hilly Puncheurs and climbers that get the higher calibre races.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

He did very well in one day races before he turned pro. If the race is long and hard enough, he might rise to the surface. When other guys have lost most of their punch. If your comment is about the WCC... he could do very well as a domestique.

Junior races have far less specialisation and far shallower fields than the pro WCRR. Don't think it's a particularly relevant data point.

I'm also not really sure if Uijtdebroeks is the type you need as a domestique. It's not up to Belgium to set the pace and he's not the guy to deliver Evenepoel to the key points in perfect position. It's worth considering taking him but I don't think he adds all that much. Unless you think he outlasts the likes of Van Eetvelt (if recovered), Van Wilder, Van Gils.

He did okay in San Sebastian, and it's not like he needs to win, he needs to help Evenepoel get the win.

That was the only time he's finished higher than 15th in a non-TT one-day race. Need to see more before I assume he can bring that level (which would make him perhaps the 25th or 30th-best rider on this WC route) to the WC.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Was thinking about CRO too, but it has had some editions that had decent mountain climbs in it, but mid-stage. They need to put that Poklon climb closer to the finish if he wants to have a chance of winning it.

It used to be an annual MTF, but post-Covid Croatia routes have been pretty soft compared to pre-Covid ones. They also had this as an MTF in 2018:

 

[peterfin]

Cian Uijtebroecks performance today was in-line with his performance since being a pro in 2022. I am using Watts2win as a reference here. It's actually remarkeable how consistent he is. He didn't gain from his switch to Visma sofar.

Cian Uijtdebroeks - Performance level, year-by-year analysis, watts estimations

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

 

[Sandisfan]

He did very well in one day races before he turned pro. If the race is long and hard enough, he might rise to the surface. When other guys have lost most of their punch. If your comment is about the WCC... he could do very well as a domestique.


I think the last explanation they gave was that his bikefitting was the issue. Quite amateurish if that turned out to be what it was.

Ergonomics can be very subtle at times. My experience for instance was our home computer with several users with particular mouse pad placing, after a while, and I didn't associate it, had my arm at less than a 90 Deg. and I didn't notice and for about a month or so my elbow would get numb and hurt a little for whatever reason I made sure to straighten it up just a bit more than 90 Deg. and the numbness and pain went away. It was a very small adjustment but it made a big difference.

 

[theyoungest]

I think the last explanation they gave was that his bikefitting was the issue. Quite amateurish if that turned out to be what it was.

It happens all the time when riders switch teams, mainly in the form of knee pain. The position on a new bike is never exactly the same. In Uijtdebroeks' case you could also imagine they tried to find a more efficient position, which (if true) obviously didn't work.

Cian Uijtebroecks performance today was in-line with his performance since being a pro in 2022. I am using Watts2win as a reference here. It's actually remarkeable how consistent he is. He didn't gain from his switch to Visma sofar.

Cian Uijtdebroeks - Performance level, year-by-year analysis, watts estimations

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

We've had endless discussions on this forum about how he rode earlier this year was just his regular level and it was all in his head. Obviously this wasn't true, but I think he'll be happy to get somewhat close to his former level. That's the first step. Now keep it for a while without back pain or whatever was bothering him.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Junior races have far less specialisation and far shallower fields than the pro WCRR. Don't think it's a particularly relevant data point.

When you are able to absolutely dominate a field in a one day race, it certainly does serve as an indication. Plenty of GC riders need a few days to get into a rhythm, or need to wait before the other riders freshness wears off. This is not an issue for him. There is simply not much to reference since he became pro, because he focussed on GC racing. I doubt him being good at CSS was a fluke. He was also top 10 and within seconds of winner Hirschi in Per Sempre Alfredo in 2022 for instance.

I'm also not really sure if Uijtdebroeks is the type you need as a domestique. It's not up to Belgium to set the pace and he's not the guy to deliver Evenepoel to the key points in perfect position. It's worth considering taking him but I don't think he adds all that much. Unless you think he outlasts the likes of Van Eetvelt (if recovered), Van Wilder, Van Gils.

There is no doubt he has the biggest engine of those you mentioned. He just lacks any sort of acceleration. If we're talking about being able to work in the final of a long hard race, and not as a decoy or to counter, then if i were Evenepoel, i'd definitely pick him. He's also taller than those other guys. I'd probably pick Vansevenant over Van Eetvelt as well. You could send him in an early break and he would probably be the last man standing and still able to do some work after that. Or you could keep him in the main group where he could survive long enough to be of use in the final.

 

[Berniece]

You could send him in an early break and he would probably be the last man standing and still able to do some work after that.

Let him attack on Mount Kigali, he'll probably get some decent riders with him, and then you can see what other countries from top favourites do.

 

[Netserk]

It’s 2 years ago, let it go

Has he ever publicly apologised for his behaviour?

Has he ever publicly denounced or confirmed the rumours spread by his agent? (secondhand denial through Valter doesn't count)

I'll let it go once he is ready to close that chapter.

 

[Berniece]

Has he ever publicly apologised for his behaviour?

Has he ever publicly denounced or confirmed the rumours spread by his agent? (secondhand denial through Valter doesn't count)

I'll let it go once he is ready to close that chapter.

He doesn’t need to apologise for anything. He’s from Belgium. We can leave our job if we want to.

 

[Netserk]

He doesn’t need to apologise for anything. He’s from Belgium. We can leave our job if we want to.

Yeah, and none of us here need to let it go either.

But I sure as hell won't forgive him if he doesn't want to apologise.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yeah, and none of us here need to let it go either.

But I sure as hell won't forgive him if he doesn't want to apologise.

Oh please, Im sure he's very sad about that

 

[Netserk]

Oh please, Im sure he's very sad about that

I'm sure he doesn't care either way, so there's no need for anyone to get up in arms on his behalf.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Peculiar that someone who often claims others get too emotionally invested in riders is talking about "forgiving riders" for something that has nothing to do with them. I guess it only works one way, right.

 

[Netserk]

Peculiar that someone who often claims others get too emotionally invested in riders is talking about "forgiving riders" for something that has nothing to do with them.

Peculiar that you are unwilling to address my points directly and would rather go for an ad hominem.

 

[Berniece]

Yeah, and none of us here need to let it go either.

But I sure as hell won't forgive him if he doesn't want to apologise.

Forgive him? Are you Denk or a random internet person? RBH didn’t pay what he was worth, and apparently didn’t give him the support he needed, so he left. That’s his choice and he can.

 

[Netserk]

Forgive him? Are you Denk or a random internet person? RBH didn’t pay what he was worth, and apparently didn’t give him the support he needed, so he left. That’s his choice and he can.

He was worth what he was willing to sign for.

 

[Berniece]

He was worth what he was willing to sign for.

And in Belgium you are able to stop working for those conditions if you feel that’s not what you are worth after a great Vuelta where your teammate stabbed you in the back by attacking you.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Peculiar that you are unwilling to address my points directly and would rather go for an ad hominem.

That also strange coming from someone who has dished out that exact same reproach himself in the past. I'm starting to see a pattern. But maybe i should look up an IQ test online for you Netserk? Because that's also something you have done in the past.

 

[Netserk]

And in Belgium you are able to stop working for those conditions if you feel that’s not what you are worth after a great Vuelta where your teammate stabbed you in the back by attacking you.

Sure. And I'm both free and able to condemn him for his behaviour and the damage he did to the sport.

 

[Netserk]

That also strange coming from someone who has dished out that exact same reproach himself in the past. I'm starting to see a pattern.

Please quote a suitable example.

 

[Berniece]

Sure. And I'm both free and able to condemn him for his behaviour and the damage he did to the sport.

The damage he did to the sport? Hyperbole much…

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Please quote a suitable example.

Too long ago mate, but it's ok. I forgive you.