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

[Berniece]

Maybe the older riders felt bullied by Cian.

Sure if that’s what you wanna go with… did Cian also create a WhatsApp group to laugh with the old guys? Oh right, no, it was the old people that are at the top of the riders hierarchy that partook in the WhatsApp group.

 

[AmRacer]

Sure if that’s what you wanna go with… did Cian also create a WhatsApp group to laugh with the old guys? Oh right, no, it was the old people that are at the top of the riders hierarchy that partook in the WhatsApp group.

So you can't bully someone without a WhatsApp group?

 

[Kwaremonster]

I have the feeling we might not find out the facts untill years later, untill some riders speak up about it or something. Unless Bora really decides to make a stand and is fine with the facts to come out (no matter who gets damaged) I think this will just be treated as a money issue and will get settled.

 

[joseph89]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735383221695545751

View: https://twitter.com/cyclingtakes/status/1735383221695545751?t=ccy6FrAmYOgYI-CHtiRZ2Q&s=19

 

[Cookster15]

Not good that a 20 year old neo pro have such a public falling out as this. But if Bora is fully at fault that would surprise me.

 

[Faserr]

So much hearsay in this case.
Now Vlasov, Denz, Higuita, Koch, Buchmann, Zwiehoff and Kämna are portrayed as bullies by the media in Beglian and Uijtdebroeks is portrayed as an ungrateful *** to his helpers.
I would assume that the relationship between Uijtdebroeks and the team deteriorated and in the end they couldn't really stand each other anymore.
Bora wanted to built him up slowly and Uijtdebroeks wants to try it faster. Its a shame that we now have this mud fight which doesn't help Bora and Uijtedebroeks at all.

 

[Salvarani]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735383221695545751

View: https://twitter.com/cyclingtakes/status/1735383221695545751?t=ccy6FrAmYOgYI-CHtiRZ2Q&s=19

I will take this with a pinch of salt.

 

[Berniece]

So you can't bully someone without a WhatsApp group?

Has nothing to do with it. It’s just extremely childish to start victim blaming when no one ever said Cian was a bully. It’s like saying that a rape victim might be the rapist because “reasons”

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I will take this with a pinch of salt.

You have to take everything about this situation with a pinch of salt until the truth from the teams/rider comes out. If it comes out. Other than that, it's just a comedy reading about it all.

 

[laarsland]

Clearly the dynamic and work environment has turned toxic, and it looks like neither part comes out squeaky clean.

Cian changing teams looks like a sensible solution, the execution said change on his part does not. Which is tiring given the rest of us have to witness this mudslinging in order to try to push the settlement lower/higher on each end. Unedifying.

 

[seasidehiking]

If you think Vlasov did anything wrong by attacking to gain time in la Vuelta and put pressure on his rivals, I question if you can really call yourself a fan of cycling. Maybe you are just a fan of Belgium.

I totally agree, eventhough my flag is the Belgian(Flemish one), its sports at the highest level. Vlasov had every right to go, even if it put pressure on his teammate. He did, more importantly, put pressure on other teams. So its a non-discussion.

 

[seasidehiking]

If you would read what i actually wrote then you will understand this makes no sense. That is UCI in the first place is not a court of law. So what you wrote is not even applicable here. And as such pointless to discuss at this time.



First of all this is the court of public opinion. And second we all spam. Including you. I don't blame you for that. Better to ask and discuss then to stay ignorant.

you missed my point. My point is i want to read whats relevant and new. Not your same comments over and over again. You either have too much time or a kitchen of the sponsor. But you opinion doenst sound unbiased thats why people see you as a troll. Which I dont think you are, i just think you have too much time. And others dont have much and then dont want to scroll through pages that add nothing to the discussion.

 

[Gargamel35]

Aldag confirms basically what we heard from Cian - he's a pain to work with, and the older guys don't like him -
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...ns-lawsuit-over-cian-uijtdebroeks-controversy

I know these type of people. They are very rarely actually succesfull (considering the effort put in them), they blame every little problem on others and demand huge time from everybody. They are a big pain in the ass and you put up with them IF they bring huge success back. He was a 20 year old guy with no success demanding huge effort by everyone, questioning everything and being a smartass. If all riders would be like that, you would need 5x more staff. So now i get it. Visma is the right team for him, they have more money and staff then anyone else probably. I'm sure Vingegaard, Van Aert, Kuss and others can spare couple guys so a rookie can get the attention he needs to ride a damn bike.

 

[IndianCyclist]

I will take this with a pinch of salt.

"Headstrong and ungrateful That eight place in the Vuelta is the highest Cian will ever achieve in a GT. His TT will never be up to par and as a climber he has less upside than you think" How is this still valued at 1 million and paid 100k?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

If we can't have Cian then a million will do some good to. For socks, bibs, ... For Rogla and his team.

And there we have your true motivation and the reason why your input here is not to be taken as a reasoned commentary: your vested interest is in what suits Roglic, not justice, honesty, security of contracts or proper conduct.

 

[zekance]

Has nothing to do with it. It’s just extremely childish to start victim blaming when no one ever said Cian was a bully. It’s like saying that a rape victim might be the rapist because “reasons”

As it stands right now there is no rape victim. Cian broke his contract based on some ancient Belgium law. Not even Belgium football clubs respect that law that is why they don't sign players that uses it and if a player wants to move outside of Belgium using that same law he will recive a BAN from FIFA.

Cian himself never said he was bullied and did not terminate his contract based on that (maybe because there are no vitnesses or no evidence to support his case) but based on the law mentiend above.

If I had to guess I'd say someone in Cian's camp tought it will help to paint Cian in better light if they leaked some info about Cian being bullied to the public. If it is true or not we will probably never find out because he is not suing them for it or using this as an excuse to terminate his contract.

 

[Salvarani]

"Headstrong and ungrateful That eight place in the Vuelta is the highest Cian will ever achieve in a GT. His TT will never be up to par and as a climber he has less upside than you think" How is this still valued at 1 million and paid 100k?

I dont know.

Feels like they are both trying to devalue each other.

Very messy situation.

Cant really believe any party here.

 

[Netserk]

"Headstrong and ungrateful That eight place in the Vuelta is the highest Cian will ever achieve in a GT. His TT will never be up to par and as a climber he has less upside than you think" How is this still valued at 1 million and paid 100k?

Paid 100k as that was what they agreed to for the 3-year deal when he signed with them. Valued at 1M as that is what two other teams have been willing to pay.

 

[roundabout]

Has nothing to do with it. It’s just extremely childish to start victim blaming when no one ever said Cian was a bully. It’s like saying that a rape victim might be the rapist because “reasons”

Back when Uijtdebroeks was riding for Auto Eder team mates did not want to ride for him too.

Martinez et Uijtdebroeks prêts pour le bouquet final

Martinez et Uijtdebroeks prêts pour le bouquet final : Lenny Martinez a du mal à réaliser. À 24 heures de l’arrivée finale de l’Ain Bugey Valromey Tour (MJ 2.1), le leader...

www.directvelo.com

I don't know for sure, but maybe there is also something about Uijtdebroeks that people do not like.

And I do not mean being too professional for others tastes, because this is a way too random reason.

 

[Berniece]

If I had to guess I'd say someone in Cian's camp tought it will help to paint Cian in better light if they leaked some info about Cian being bullied to the public. If it is true or not we will probably never find out because he is not suing them for it or using this as an excuse to terminate his contract.

The journalist that brought this to light said it was confirmed by multiple sources. So no just something from the Cian camp. They might have said this to the journalist, but he talked to multiple other people about this to make sure it was correct.

All of this was part of a 1 hour podcast, not just a random article he quickly wrote as clickbait.

 

[joseph89]

Back when Uijtdebroeks was riding for Auto Eder team mates did not want to ride for him too.

Martinez et Uijtdebroeks prêts pour le bouquet final

Martinez et Uijtdebroeks prêts pour le bouquet final : Lenny Martinez a du mal à réaliser. À 24 heures de l’arrivée finale de l’Ain Bugey Valromey Tour (MJ 2.1), le leader...

www.directvelo.com

“When I see France, they really ride as a team. The whole team waited for him to help him come back when he had his problem. I think if it had been me,that wouldn't have been the case. It’s a bit sad.” 😬

 

[roundabout]

The journalist that brought this to light said it was confirmed by multiple sources. So no just something from the Cian camp. They might have said this to the journalist, but he talked to multiple other people about this to make sure it was correct.

All of this was part of a 1 hour podcast, not just a random article he quickly wrote as clickbait.

I asked before, but might ask again, who were the multiple sources? Bullies? People who have seen the bullying and never told the management, but told Zonneveld?

Color me skeptical, but I doubt that anyone who was a member of the alleged whatsapp group for example talked to Zonneveld, so it is more likely that he at best has second hand info about the contents of the conversations.

 

[scribers]

Back when Uijtdebroeks was riding for Auto Eder team mates did not want to ride for him too.

Martinez et Uijtdebroeks prêts pour le bouquet final

Martinez et Uijtdebroeks prêts pour le bouquet final : Lenny Martinez a du mal à réaliser. À 24 heures de l’arrivée finale de l’Ain Bugey Valromey Tour (MJ 2.1), le leader...

www.directvelo.com

I don't know for sure, but maybe there is also something about Uijtdebroeks that people do not like.

And I do not mean being too professional for others tastes, because this is a way too random reason.

Being a talent does not make them a natural likeable leader people want to work hard for

 

[joseph89]

Being a talent does not make them a natural likeable leader people want to work hard for

Nor does throwing your team mates under the bus and comments like "In a lot of situations, I'm all alone, that's what annoys me a little”

 

[Rackham]

Nor does throwing your team mates under the bus and comments like "In a lot of situations, I'm all alone, that's what annoys me a little”

I think the 'problem' is young sportsmen have an entourage geared towards maximizing the outcomes for the talented athlete in front of them.

It means evidently (at least it's appearing that way) Uijtdebroeks is a very talented rider with the social skills, tact & temperament of a bulldozer. He wants stuff & acts huffy when he doesn't get it. This IMO doesn't even necessarily come from him but from whomever is advising him. It's almost a cliché nowadays, i.e. athletes role playing at being winners straight-out of puberty.

There's too much stuff around Uijtdebroeks (including that article from 2021) for it to be coincidental. I mean just look at how the Belgian & Dutch media has rallied to his cause as well over the past week. There's a machine here which industrializes the manufacturing of bike champions. Uijtdebroeks is just the latest product of that system.

Again, we don't even know what he's like himself (does he even know?) because he's not exactly grown-up yet.

Just my opinion.