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

[Netserk]

Would be interesting to have a poll about what his career trajectory will look like. People seem certain that he'll crash and burn, but might backpedal into "I just meant he wouldn't win a GT".

His career highlight will be a boring 5th place in either the Giro or the Vuelta. He will never podium any WT races.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

His career highlight will be a boring 5th place in either the Giro or the Vuelta. He will never podium any WT races.

Would you have said the same a week before news broke that he was leaving Bora? Because imho not much has changed, he still has the same potential he had then if he is able to overcome his physical issues. He's still only 22. Or are you saying this because you dislike him or assume his bad results of the past 18 months are actually his real level?

Never on a WT podium sure smells like a take considering his age.

 

[Andre]

one good thing to come from all this is he still believes in himself, plus he rode better towards the end of the 2025 season

 

[theyoungest]

And again, still, Belgian media focusses on cycling a lot more than any other country. There are basically only 10 million of us, yet every news paper has a major section dedicated to the sport. In the Netherlands there is only Wielerflits, you need a magnifying glass to find any relevant cycling info on NOS Sport for instance.

That's not entirely true, but the culture around it is just totally different. The average person in Flanders knows much more about the sport than the average Dutchman. Ask someone in the Netherlands about Olav Kooij, I bet 90% of people don't know who that is.

 

[Netserk]

Would you have said the same a week before news broke that he was leaving Bora? Because imho not much has changed, he still has the same potential he had then if he is able to overcome his physical issues. He's still only 22. Or are you saying this because you dislike him or assume his bad results of the past 18 months are actually his real level?

Never on a WT podium sure smells like a take considering his age.

A lot has changed over the past 2 years, yeah. His injury first and foremost. I don't think it's just a setback that postpones his “real” lvl, rather that he is damaged goods now. Meanwhile, many others make substantial progress. His skillset seems even more narrow now, and his mentality is poor.

Age is not magic. Lipo has more potential than Ayuso, despite how early the latter made the podium of a GT.

Stage results are irrelevant to list. Only three riders made the podium of the Tour this year: Pogi, Vingegaard and Lipowitz. Campenaerts did not.

 

[SHAD0W93]

With the Bora situation o wanted to give him the benefit of doubt and let his wings spread but at this point he might be maxed out and could potentially have an undiagnosed condition along with his injury that’s been causing him problems. At least with Movistar he has no excuse being the leader at whatever GT he goes to. GT finishing I think it’s still a 5-10 placing with maybe a lucky 3rd depending on route and riders like Pidcock.

 

[Hugh Januss]

This aged like wine.

Visma sure didn't get much for their money. Uijtdebroeks was *** for a year and a half and they stood by him, when he finally seems like he's coming back he's off to another team. He might be a fit at Movistar as they sometimes start with 6-7 leaders. I'm not sure that his characteristics lend to being a top domestic anyway, uphill he really doesn't have what you could call a "turn of speed", so maybe it's for the best.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Full circle moment

Mas and Blobloblo on the same team!!!

If only Solor was still there!

 

[Berniece]

His skillset seems even more narrow now, and his mentality is poor.

How so is his mentality poor? Fought hard to come back, keeps learning, keeps working. Because he has higher ambitions that the team doesn’t agree with he has bad mentality?

 

[AlfaLum]

How so is his mentality poor? Fought hard to come back, keeps learning, keeps working. Because he has higher ambitions that the team doesn’t agree with he has bad mentality?

Its poor because people dont like him.

 

[Red Rick]

Well, Hindley is 29 and Uijtdebroks is 22 so of course Hindley has shown more by now but Hindley at 22 had done nothing of what Uijtdebroks has done so it cuts both ways.

Hindley isn't really an outlier other than he has actually won a GT. But if you compare him with other GT riders then he is part of a large group of similar level riders that I would call the top 10 gang. These are riders that ge top 10s in GTs and week long WT stage races but rarely make the podium in any of them.

It's riders like Thyman Arensmann, Felix Gall, Pello Bilbao, David Gaudu, Thibaut Pinot, Romain Bardet, Louis Mentjes, Mikel Landa, Steven Kruijswijk, Ben O'Connor, Damiano Caruso, Domenico Pozzovivo etc. just to name a few.

I'm even tempted to add Enric Mas to the list but he has at least been on the podium in 50% of his top 10 finishes so he is more of a consistent competitor though looking at his WT stage races he is more of a clear top 10 gang.

Almost anyone of the ones I mentioned could have had a win in a GT just like Jai Hindley if the stars had aligned just a little better for them at the right moment.

Age of entry at WT matters just as much as age of achievement, if not more. Riders break through at a much younger age, so being "only 22" doesn't matter that much anymore, especially if he's fundamentally not even a better rider than 2 years ago.

Hindley meanwhile showed a higher level of climbing in his 3rd GT and 3rd WT season than Uijtdebroeks ever has.

 

[Red Rick]

How so is his mentality poor? Fought hard to come back, keeps learning, keeps working. Because he has higher ambitions that the team doesn’t agree with he has bad mentality?

Complaining about Vlasov, complaining about being poorly supported, having your agent or the media make up bs stories to force a move, then forcing a move 2 seasons later after the team has been extremely patient with you, as well as deciding to go to Movistar of all teams are all indicators of piss poor mentality or just brain smoother Johnny Bravo

 

[Netserk]

How so is his mentality poor? Fought hard to come back, keeps learning, keeps working. Because he has higher ambitions that the team doesn’t agree with he has bad mentality?

I don't think he has high ambitions. I don't see this move as him betting on himself to ever win a GT or challenge for it. If he thought that, he should also think that he can prove himself in one-week races to the team and earn the right to race for GC in a GT in two years. I think one option for him if he stayed was to race the Giro next year as a helper.

He seems self-centered and impatient. And then it makes sense to go to Movistar. Not to pursue the highest goals of stage racing, but to get to race for himself and to never having to subordinate himself to others. Which is fine, if you have the strength to match your attitude.

 

[Flamin]

Interesting though sensible move from Cian. Went to Visma to grow in the shadow and learn from the best. Plagued by injuries, he fell down in Visma's pecking order, leaving him with less and less opportunities, yet he does not want to give up on his own ambitions. And rightfully so, as a 22y old. Leaves Visma for another team where he can chase those ambitions. I don't see what the fuss is about really.

Maybe the more relaxed Spanish mentality will do his overthinking brain well too, instead of it being extra fueled by the Visma data freaks. Let's see.

 

[Netserk]

Interesting though sensible move from Cian. Went to Visma to grow in the shadow and learn from the best. Plagued by injuries, he fell down in Visma's pecking order, leaving him with less and less opportunities, yet he does not want to give up on his own ambitions. And rightfully so, as a 22y old. Leaves Visma for another team where he can chase those ambitions. I don't see what the fuss is about really.

Maybe the more relaxed Spanish mentality will do his overthinking brain well too, instead of it being extra fueled by the Visma data freaks. Let's see.

Had this been at the end of an original contract for 2 seasons, it wouldn't have caused half as much fuss.

 

[Flamin]

Had this been at the end of an original contract for 2 seasons, it wouldn't have caused half as much fuss.

Sure, but this happened after a mutual agreement.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Had this been at the end of an original contract for 2 seasons, it wouldn't have caused half as much fuss.

At this point why would anyone sign this guy to a 4 year contract, anyway?

 

[Unchained]

I don't think he has high ambitions. I don't see this move as him betting on himself to ever win a GT or challenge for it. If he thought that, he should also think that he can prove himself in one-week races to the team and earn the right to race for GC in a GT in two years. I think one option for him if he stayed was to race the Giro next year as a helper.

He seems self-centered and impatient. And then it makes sense to go to Movistar. Not to pursue the highest goals of stage racing, but to get to race for himself and to never having to subordinate himself to others. Which is fine, if you have the strength to match your attitude.

Super, super sad to see this.. almost a road map of what not to do. His original youthful bliss were he went deep Hollywood about portrayal of abusive relationship, an emergency move for self preservation.
Goes to Visma and in 2025 finally appears to be breaking through the clouds..and now this.
Who is giving this young man advice? Just some bike basics about let your results speak for themselves.. Or maybe he just likes to travel.. Has fear of commitment to relationships.. Something deeply rooted in self sabotage.
I look at this unfold and wonder if he invited Wout for a beer or coffee, chat about his plans. Maybe he could get a phone number for Caleb Ewan or Marcel Kittel talk strategy when it feels like walls are closing in. 22 and 2 broken contracts, his handshake or words mean nothing. Guy has 2 pro wins..

 

[Netserk]

Sure, but this happened after a mutual agreement.

He is too bad to fight over. Visma should be happy to cut their losses.

But any mutual agreement is tainted by the credible threat of unilateral action. If they said no, would he really take that for an answer?

 

[red_flanders]

Never thought he was a credible threat to podium any meaningful race.

Expect further drama in the Movistar colors...

 

[Flamin]

He is too bad to fight over. Visma should be happy to cut their losses.

But any mutual agreement is tainted by the credible threat of unilateral action. If they said no, would he really take that for an answer?

Exactly. If beneficial for both parties, I don't see the problem. Everybody happy.

That's an answer we will never know. If you think he wouldn't have, that's pure speculation, even though perception is not on his side.

 

[James M]

Super, super sad to see this.. almost a road map of what not to do. His original youthful bliss were he went deep Hollywood about portrayal of abusive relationship, an emergency move for self preservation.
Goes to Visma and in 2025 finally appears to be breaking through the clouds..and now this.
Who is giving this young man advice? Just some bike basics about let your results speak for themselves.. Or maybe he just likes to travel.. Has fear of commitment to relationships.. Something deeply rooted in self sabotage.
I look at this unfold and wonder if he invited Wout for a beer or coffee, chat about his plans. Maybe he could get a phone number for Caleb Ewan or Marcel Kittel talk strategy when it feels like walls are closing in. 22 and 2 broken contracts, his handshake or words mean nothing. Guy has 2 pro wins..

I remember after 23, when he and Del Toro were both being speculated as future stars, since they had shown promising results that year.

Their trajectories ended up taking completely opposite paths as of now. I don't think it's necessarily super deep mostly just some bad luck which make it unfair to compare it equally and factors that are hard to foresee for outsiders like us regarding Cian. Also Torito super rise this year was hard to foresee to this extent for everyone. Still, the contrast couldn't be more stark. For this I think its a win win if the cited reasons are true, potential new start for him.

 

[Red Rick]

4 year contract at Movistar just screams buy out to me

 

[Berniece]

I don't think he has high ambitions. I don't see this move as him betting on himself to ever win a GT or challenge for it. If he thought that, he should also think that he can prove himself in one-week races to the team and earn the right to race for GC in a GT in two years. I think one option for him if he stayed was to race the Giro next year as a helper.

He is literally moving because he has higher ambitions next season than Visma had for him. How is that not having high ambitions. He wants to go for GC in a GT. What more ambition can you have?

 

[Salvarani]

I feel like it is just more of a strategic move from Visma and just going in another direction.

Last season someone like Staune-Mittet left. Now it is Gloag and Uijtebroeks, who both has had there fair share of problems.

Not to mention a plethora of younger riders who have left outside of these guys as well. Either from their development team or from their first-team.

They have Nordhagen as a young and promising rider. They have added Piganzoli. There is Tulett.

Not really a surprise they have to cut or release a couple of riders to make room and create opportunity. Who knows, maybe they got paid.