Cian Uijtdebroeks delighted as Castrillo and Roméo fly for Movistar at Tour de France rehearsal

Movistar are widely seen as a team of climbers — but that may be changing. After a fine seventh place at the Paris-Nice team time trial, the squad delivered another top-ten finish at Tuesday's Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes team time trial. Cian Uijtdebroeks was full of praise in front of the camera afterwards.

The 23-year-old Belgian was interviewed just after Movistar had set the fastest time of the day. Six teams would ultimately go quicker, leaving the Spanish squad in seventh — the same position they had finished at Paris-Nice. The TTT format was structured in the same way as at Paris-Nice: GC leaders were allowed to ride clear of their teammates in the closing kilometres — just as will happen in July at the Tour de France.

The seventh place looks even more impressive given that Movistar lost their Colombian rider, Diego Pescador, before the start, after he withdrew through illness. "I'm super happy, super happy," Uijtdebroeks said. "We didn't know 100% what to expect because, with Diego already out this morning as well, we had one guy fewer who could have been important on the climbs."

For Uijtdebroeks, the stage was a valuable chance to look ahead to the summer. "It's super important for this race this week, but even more important for the Tour de France," he said. "For me as well, I haven't done a team time trial since the 2023 Vuelta, which wasn't really a team time trial like this. So it's also a learning experience for me."

"We gave everything and stayed super united," Uijtdebroeks said. "The guys did an incredible job on the flat parts. Especially Pablo Castrillo, who was flying super strong, and also Iván Roméo."

"Then I had to give everything on the final climb," the Belgian added with a smile — as he will also have to do alone in the final section come July. "I missed the one at Paris-Nice, but it's very good to have this one. If the finish is uphill, I think it's always good for the GC riders," he said — a nod to the uphill finish that also awaits in Barcelona.

Author: David Bavin-Hobbs - [email protected]