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

[Samamba]

There's about a 50% chance he'll be the best Belgian in the Tour.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Ngl, I might have forgotten about him

 

[Samamba]

Ngl, I might have forgotten about him

Chances of him finishing a GT is like 20% tho

I noticed on some forums and Twitter that a lot of people have already forgotten he exists tbh, saying Lotto only has De Lie (and Widar to a lesser extent), like Lennert didn't just win 2 Wt stage races in 2024 (sure it's the 2 weakest but still).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Are you claiming you think Uijtdebroeks has toxic positivity?

Cian has - either by virtue of the people who have his ear such as his agent or by dint of his own ego - developed quite the high self-worth, such that he's had a melty at not one but two teams for daring to not treat him as the belle of the ball. A lot of the time, people who demand that kind of special treatment attract dislike from large sections of the audience even when they justify their own hype - which to date, and partly through reasons outside of his control, Cian Uijtdebroeks has not. He might have had good reason for not performing in the last two seasons, but the idea that he was in the position to go to Visma of all teams towards the end of 2025 and demand Grand Tour leadership or bust, is laughably egotistical.

An audience of yes-man fans who will find excuses for your every failing (see the ends of the earth gone to to vilify Bora-Hansgrohe over the difference between 7th and 8th in the Vuelta) and go to war with any critics who dare suggest their princess isn't the prettiest... provides nothing more than a hugbox that reinforces that ego and lack of self-reflection. He's young enough to still be impressionable, but he's old enough that he doesn't need to be insulated from consequence for his own actions, and old enough to pick himself up again if his ego takes a bit of a dent. Having a chance to take on a GC without the ability to fire the excuse cannon and realise that, actually, maybe he isn't the second coming of Lucien van Impe, and actually take stock of where he is performance-wise and set goals and expectations of himself accordingly might be better for him in the long run.

Aren't you the avid Evenepoel backer?

No.

Why is believing in yourself such a bad thing suddenly?
He might not be as good as he thinks, but wouldn't it be better if he came to that realisation by riding without crashes and illness?

Netserk's post did not wish injury or illness on him. Just that his GC bid fails.

Which, again, if you don't think he's as good as he seemingly thinks he is, might actually be better for him in the long run than reinforcing his inflated self-opinion that has already seen him run himself off two teams - both stronger and with current better development pathways than his present one - by age 22.

 

[Berniece]

does it matter that he isnt 32

Because he’s a young kid

 

[Netserk]

Because he’s a young kid

no, he is not 14

he is old enough to be a corporal in the army, leading an infantry squad in a war

 

[Potomac]

Here's a list of all his wins.

Nr	Race	Class	Date	Category
2	Tour de l'Ain	2.1	2025-08-08	ME
1	Tour de l'Ain | Stage 3	2.1	2025-08-08	ME

He has 97 pages of comments on this forum.

If there is "false positivity" I don't blame him for it.

 

[Berniece]

no, he is not 14

he is old enough to be a corporal in the army, leading an infantry squad in a war

And in some countries you can work full time when you are 12…

When your brain hasn’t fully developed, you’re a kid

 

[Kazistuta]

Cian has - either by virtue of the people who have his ear such as his agent or by dint of his own ego - developed quite the high self-worth, such that he's had a melty at not one but two teams for daring to not treat him as the belle of the ball. A lot of the time, people who demand that kind of special treatment attract dislike from large sections of the audience even when they justify their own hype - which to date, and partly through reasons outside of his control, Cian Uijtdebroeks has not. He might have had good reason for not performing in the last two seasons, but the idea that he was in the position to go to Visma of all teams towards the end of 2025 and demand Grand Tour leadership or bust, is laughably egotistical.

An audience of yes-man fans who will find excuses for your every failing (see the ends of the earth gone to to vilify Bora-Hansgrohe over the difference between 7th and 8th in the Vuelta) and go to war with any critics who dare suggest their princess isn't the prettiest... provides nothing more than a hugbox that reinforces that ego and lack of self-reflection. He's young enough to still be impressionable, but he's old enough that he doesn't need to be insulated from consequence for his own actions, and old enough to pick himself up again if his ego takes a bit of a dent. Having a chance to take on a GC without the ability to fire the excuse cannon and realise that, actually, maybe he isn't the second coming of Lucien van Impe, and actually take stock of where he is performance-wise and set goals and expectations of himself accordingly might be better for him in the long run.

No.

Netserk's post did not wish injury or illness on him. Just that his GC bid fails.

Which, again, if you don't think he's as good as he seemingly thinks he is, might actually be better for him in the long run than reinforcing his inflated self-opinion that has already seen him run himself off two teams - both stronger and with current better development pathways than his present one - by age 22.

Sorry, misremembered . It was the user formerly known as Logic... that I mistook you for. Personally I think he has great climbing potential, but with no acceleration and still a mediocre time trial he'll have a hard time doing more than a top5 in a GC. Due to his misfortune I'd say there's still a lot of unchartered potential though, and I for one like that GC riders with ambitions spread out instead of joining the same team (Team SKY back in the day, now UAE and Red Bull mainly).

 

[AmRacer]

And in some countries you can work full time when you are 12…

When your brain hasn’t fully developed, you’re a kid

Do tell him his brain hasn't fully developed yet. 😁

 

[Unchained]

Cian has - either by virtue of the people who have his ear such as his agent or by dint of his own ego - developed quite the high self-worth, such that he's had a melty at not one but two teams for daring to not treat him as the belle of the ball. A lot of the time, people who demand that kind of special treatment attract dislike from large sections of the audience even when they justify their own hype - which to date, and partly through reasons outside of his control, Cian Uijtdebroeks has not. He might have had good reason for not performing in the last two seasons, but the idea that he was in the position to go to Visma of all teams towards the end of 2025 and demand Grand Tour leadership or bust, is laughably egotistical.

An audience of yes-man fans who will find excuses for your every failing (see the ends of the earth gone to to vilify Bora-Hansgrohe over the difference between 7th and 8th in the Vuelta) and go to war with any critics who dare suggest their princess isn't the prettiest... provides nothing more than a hugbox that reinforces that ego and lack of self-reflection. He's young enough to still be impressionable, but he's old enough that he doesn't need to be insulated from consequence for his own actions, and old enough to pick himself up again if his ego takes a bit of a dent. Having a chance to take on a GC without the ability to fire the excuse cannon and realise that, actually, maybe he isn't the second coming of Lucien van Impe, and actually take stock of where he is performance-wise and set goals and expectations of himself accordingly might be better for him in the long run.

No.

Netserk's post did not wish injury or illness on him. Just that his GC bid fails.

Which, again, if you don't think he's as good as he seemingly thinks he is, might actually be better for him in the long run than reinforcing his inflated self-opinion that has already seen him run himself off two teams - both stronger and with current better development pathways than his present one - by age 22.

I think your math is a bit complimentary.. Saying that Cian couldn't find his groove with 2 teams is correct, if expanded he has had @60 teammates, dozens of coaches, nutritionists, sponsors that just were not good enough and now he has done something even more difficult for most, going to switch to a team who primarily communicate in Spanish.
It's a subtle difference to some but communication and the ability to interact, interpret nuance is more difficult for most in something other than mother tongue. Guy is very very young, impatient and if at 22 he believes or is being told, convinced that he has given people and processes a chance he is being misinformed.
I have said it about the young man constantly, consistently,
who is advising this young talented rider?
He got advice and direction from @70-80 people from other 2_teams, hope someone tells him to ride his bike and things will fall into place. Cian is a great example of why the mental training in professional racing is as important as physical preparation.

 

[aphronesis]

Glad the Libertine/Remco advocacy was cleared up.

 

[saunaking]

His problem is he can't win anything. Ya he can be a good climber but zero punch. Is he even good enough to ride guys off his wheel in tour of the alps?

Small *** races it is, but really he is just gonna hang around and get top 10s in stage races with climbing. Boring AF.

I'm curious about his leadership at the tour. Are Sanchez and Romeo supposed to get him bottles when they could possibly get a stage win?

 

[Red Rick]

Absolving riders from the consequences of their own shitty behavior will never not annoy me.

The only reason this thread is almost 100 pages is because a small section of fans will defend anything because the rider in question is their poor baby.

Also, people are confusing toxic positivity with a guy having a superficially affable charm or chronic self overestimation.

 

[Berniece]

Absolving riders from the consequences of their own shitty behavior will never not annoy me.

The only reason this thread is almost 100 pages is because a small section of fans will defend anything because the rider in question is their poor baby.

Also, people are confusing toxic positivity with a guy having a superficially affable charm or chronic self overestimation.

Just because you see it like that, doesn’t make it true

 

[Valv.Piti]

What are you guys talking about? Cian is riding for Movistar, and therefore he should be absolved from any blame and hasn't done anything wrong at all. Wish you all the luck you need Cian, because god knows this team needs it!

 

[Unchained]

Absolving riders from the consequences of their own shitty behavior will never not annoy me.

The only reason this thread is almost 100 pages is because a small section of fans will defend anything because the rider in question is their poor baby.

Also, people are confusing toxic positivity with a guy having a superficially affable charm or chronic self overestimation.

Just because you see it like that, doesn’t make it true

Cian is 22 ,even amongst top rivals in his age group give or take a year, he is an underachiever. He has moments of great form, but primarily he is some form of hybrid misfit.
Can't get along, can't follow directions, the end of his rope is millimeters or centimeters long, guy gets fed up in weeks or months and wants to move on, change of scenery.
In the years he should have spent developing as a teammate, racer, adult he is involved with contracts, conflicts, moving and directly or indirectly casting blame for bike races not won.
That's the way I see it..show me another 22 year old WT pro with more drama and disappointment, disagreement in their short term career and I will meet you half way.
Red Rick's post is based on observed reality.
Guy signs and nothing since other than disputes with teams.. That's certain not opinion.
Sucks for Cian if he is a generational talent.. Maybe he is just waiting to achieve greatness in another generation.
I know half dozen ex pros that would be glad to sit for coffee, conversation, cake with Cian and advise him, I am just guessing but he needs a personal relationship of someone he can listen to, follow.
From what I have seen the guy is an orphan.. Who would have told him to get fed up and change this many times before 23rd birthday..And where he is from ,languages I assume he can speak, circles he runs in..dozens of accomplished, seasoned pros are littering his landscape..
Has he called Tom Boonen? Philippe Gilbert? Niki Terpstra? The list is long, guys that can go out on a ride, beer, coffee and get some clarity on things that are unclear to this young racer.
Sad stories about riders retiring because of some serious health issues like bad valves, irregular heartbeat, etc.. Cian is years in and can't figure out how to ride his bike.
I see half dozen other young riders that teams can't get them off the bike,This guy is a real talent that is in desperate need of guidance.

 

[Berniece]

Cian is 22 ,even amongst top rivals in his age group give or take a year, he is an underachiever. He has moments of great form, but primarily he is some form of hybrid misfit.
Can't get along, can't follow directions, the end of his rope is millimeters or centimeters long, guy gets fed up in weeks or months and wants to move on, change of scenery.
In the years he should have spent developing as a teammate, racer, adult he is involved with contracts, conflicts, moving and directly or indirectly casting blame for bike races not won.
That's the way I see it..show me another 22 year old WT pro with more drama and disappointment, disagreement in their short term career and I will meet you half way.
Red Rick's post is based on observed reality.
Guy signs and nothing since other than disputes with teams.. That's certain not opinion.
Sucks for Cian if he is a generational talent.. Maybe he is just waiting to achieve greatness in another generation.
I know half dozen ex pros that would be glad to sit for coffee, conversation, cake with Cian and advise him, I am just guessing but he needs a personal relationship of someone he can listen to, follow.
From what I have seen the guy is an orphan.. Who would have told him to get fed up and change this many times before 23rd birthday..And where he is from ,languages I assume he can speak, circles he runs in..dozens of accomplished, seasoned pros are littering his landscape..
Has he called Tom Boonen? Philippe Gilbert? Niki Terpstra? The list is long, guys that can go out on a ride, beer, coffee and get some clarity on things that are unclear to this young racer.
Sad stories about riders retiring because of some serious health issues like bad valves, irregular heartbeat, etc.. Cian is years in and can't figure out how to ride his bike.
I see half dozen other young riders that teams can't get them off the bike,This guy is a real talent that is in desperate need of guidance.

I just completely disagree. He signed for Visma, got a back injury that wasn’t solved for 1.5 years, basically not until summer this year. He wants to ride GT’s, not possible at Visma, so they agree he can leave. That’s it. No drama, no issues with the team or his fellow riders. Just facts.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I just completely disagree. He signed for Visma, got a back injury that wasn’t solved for 1.5 years, basically not until summer this year. He wants to ride GT’s, not possible at Visma, so they agree he can leave. That’s it. No drama, no issues with the team or his fellow riders. Just facts.

He wants to lead GTs. That's what the problem was always going to be at Visma. If he said "I'm happy to ride in service of Vingegaard or Yates" they'd have been perfectly happy to let him ride GTs in 2026. But he wants a role that he has simply not earned, at least not for a team with the alternative options that Visma has in that respect.

Which was always going to be the case at Visma even if he hadn't missed most of the last 2 years due to injury. Which was why moving there was massively counterproductive and unlikely to work out in the first place, unless he was prepared to swallow his pride and serve an apprenticeship as a domestique before earning leadership opportunities, which clearly he was not. Hence moving to a team like Movistar which has less by way of top end competition for leadership.

It's also just kind of funny that you jump in to tell Red Rick how wrong he is for saying there are certain fans who will defend anything Uijtdebroeks does and baby him as this innocent princess when you're literally the poster that's in here claiming we can't be allowed to judge his actions because he's only a child.

 

[Berniece]

He wants to lead GTs. That's what the problem was always going to be at Visma. If he said "I'm happy to ride in service of Vingegaard or Yates" they'd have been perfectly happy to let him ride GTs in 2026.

That’s not the communication Plugge or Uijtdebroeks gave. So you are already adding stuff to the story that isn’t there.

 

[HashRouge]

He wants to lead GTs. That's what the problem was always going to be at Visma. If he said "I'm happy to ride in service of Vingegaard or Yates" they'd have been perfectly happy to let him ride GTs in 2026. But he wants a role that he has simply not earned, at least not for a team with the alternative options that Visma has in that respect.

Which was always going to be the case at Visma even if he hadn't missed most of the last 2 years due to injury. Which was why moving there was massively counterproductive and unlikely to work out in the first place, unless he was prepared to swallow his pride and serve an apprenticeship as a domestique before earning leadership opportunities, which clearly he was not. Hence moving to a team like Movistar which has less by way of top end competition for leadership.

It's also just kind of funny that you jump in to tell Red Rick how wrong he is for saying there are certain fans who will defend anything Uijtdebroeks does and baby him as this innocent princess when you're literally the poster that's in here claiming we can't be allowed to judge his actions because he's only a child.

To be fair to Berniece, that's not what they said at all. They just pointed out that the whole situation doesn't seem quite as drama filled as some posters are suggesting.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

To be fair to Berniece, that's not what they said at all. They just pointed out that the whole situation doesn't seem quite as drama filled as some posters are suggesting.

Berniece posted an evidently critical post suggesting it was wrong for Netserk to want his GC bid to fail, specifically drawing attention to his age as a justification for why this was a bad thing. Netserk then pointed responded, "what does it matter if he's not 32?" to which the response came, "because he's a young kid". When the fact that he is an adult and can be held responsible for his own actions, the response comes about development of the brain in order to once again abrogate criticism and suggest that Cian cannot be reproached for his conduct or decisions, due to his age.

I'm sorry, but this is very much babying. As I stated earlier, he's young enough to still be impressionable, but he's also old enough that he can take responsibility for his actions, and when his actions have consequences he doesn't need to be shielded from them.

And if he ever wants to achieve up to the fullest of his abilities, there's a significant non-zero chance that taking responsibility when he makes mistakes will offer him a better opportunity to learn from them than a hugbox where no criticism is allowed.

 

[hrotha]

Are we even sure the Friars are actually ordained priests and thus can absolve him

 

[Berniece]

Berniece posted an evidently critical post suggesting it was wrong for Netserk to want his GC bid to fail, specifically drawing attention to his age as a justification for why this was a bad thing. Netserk then pointed responded, "what does it matter if he's not 32?" to which the response came, "because he's a young kid". When the fact that he is an adult and can be held responsible for his own actions, the response comes about development of the brain in order to once again abrogate criticism and suggest that Cian cannot be reproached for his conduct or decisions, due to his age.

I'm sorry, but this is very much babying. As I stated earlier, he's young enough to still be impressionable, but he's also old enough that he can take responsibility for his actions, and when his actions have consequences he doesn't need to be shielded from them.

And if he ever wants to achieve up to the fullest of his abilities, there's a significant non-zero chance that taking responsibility when he makes mistakes will offer him a better opportunity to learn from them than a hugbox where no criticism is allowed.

Criticism? He literally said:
hope he fails and abandons

You call that criticism?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Criticism? He literally said:
hope he fails and abandons

You call that criticism?

I pointed out that Netserk wanted his GC bid to fail. That's literally in the post you're quoting. Netserk didn't wish illness or physical injury on him, just for his ego to take a dent.

Stop cherry-picking just so that you can take offence on behalf of a man (not a boy) who is old enough to handle his own problems.

Just because you feel he should be molly-coddled and given special treatment for being the prettiest princess where nobody is allowed to say anything mean in case he gets the sads doesn't mean it's wrong for somebody to disagree.