Uijtdebroeks' agent explains exit from Visma | Lease a Bike: "If you want to grow, you need the chance"

The 22-year-old Belgian is represented by Italian Alex Carera, who also represents Tadej Pogacar. “It's purely for sporting reasons,” Carera explained to Sporza. “Cian wants to ride major stage races with an important role, and in that team with all those leaders, it's not easy. If you want to grow every year, you need to have the chance to go for a GC.”

Uijtdebroeks seemed to flourish more and more in the fall, winning a stage and the overall classification in the Tour de l'Ain, his first professional victories. He then finished second in the Czech Tour and fifth in the Tour of Slovakia. But these were not the opportunities he had hoped for. "Two weeks before the World Championships, we decided together to look for a new team, and I found one."

The choice of Movistar is surprising, but perhaps not entirely unexpected. The last Belgian to ride for the team was Jürgen Roelandts. The now 40-year-old former rider has been a team manager with the Spanish team for some time. It is not clear whether he was closely involved in the deal. “Movistar believes that Cian is one of the greatest talents,” Carera says.

At Movistar, Uijtdebroeks will normally have more opportunities in bigger races, but the Tour de France is not yet the goal for 2026. “Not next year, but in the future. Next season, he has to grow, as he does every year. Cian works hard, is very passionate, and is a great talent. We have to give it a try, right? Before you can ride well in the general classification, you also have to learn to lose.”

“But if you can't participate, that's difficult,” Carera continues. “That's why we have—once again—found the best solution together.” Visma | Lease a Bike did not stand in the way of the talented climber's departure. "We discussed with the management of Visma-Lease a Bike how many champions they have in their team. The negotiations were not difficult. The three parties agreed."

Movistar has not been known as one of the biggest teams in the cycling peloton for some time, but Carera counters. “They have won Grand Tours in the past. Their staff is very experienced and, apart from Enric Mas, they currently have no big leaders. And there are three Grand Tours a year. So there is an opportunity for a bigger role with them.”

Moreover, Uijtdebroeks will not be thrown in at the deep end. "Cian also lives in Spain, speaks a little Spanish, and will easily integrate into this team." The departure was not about finances at all. "That's not important right now. It's important that Cian is happy. Money is not the priority. If your results are good, the money will follow."