Movistar talent Uijtdebroeks realistic before the Tour: 'Still a step to make towards top form'

Cian Uijtdebroeks is set for his Tour de France debut this summer. The Belgian swapped Visma | Lease a Bike for Movistar over the winter, and things seem to be going well at the Spanish team. IDL Pro Cycling spoke to the 23-year-old climber last week, and his smile gave away that he's in good shape heading into his Tour de France debut.

When we caught up with him last Thursday, ahead of stage five of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Uijtdebroeks had that trademark smile on his face. The Belgian was clearly enjoying himself in France, and after a very strong final weekend, he ultimately finished seventh overall. His best result yet in Movistar colours.

His debut for the Spanish team had been somewhat trickier this year. The Belgian crashed at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, breaking his elbow as a result. "I've got absolutely no issues with it now, but that was obviously a setback at the start of the season. That was the first race I rode for my new team. To then sit at home for a month or two straight away isn't the start you want," he reflected.

That was a setback, but things ran smoothly for Uijtdebroeks after that. The climber from Aubel finished fifth at Milano-Torino, eighth at the Volta a Catalunya, twelfth at the Tour of the Basque Country, and now an impressive seventh in a genuinely stacked Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

So things are going "really well so far," Uijtdebroeks tells us, on how his move from Visma | Lease a Bike to Movistar has gone. "At the start it was obviously a case of getting used to the equipment, the training and the nutrition too. Every team works differently, but everything's going well. The races I've ridden so far have gone well. We know there's still margin too, so that's positive."

The still only 23-year-old Belgian was able to elaborate a little more on that margin. "It's mainly about building race rhythm and also getting that explosiveness into my legs. I've done a lot of base training, a lot of hours, but not that much intensity. That's actually what we're starting on now," Uijtdebroeks said, explaining what's still missing ahead of the Tour de France.

A great deal still revolves around the Tour, the climber made very clear. In terms of Grand Tours, he's ridden the Vuelta a España twice and the Giro d'Italia once. He only finished the 2023 Vuelta, where he came eighth. Now, a debut at the Tour de France is on the cards.

Heading into it, things are looking good. "I think we're perfectly on schedule at this point. We're where we want to be. The basic fitness is definitely good, but there's still a step to make towards top form," Uijtdebroeks was honest enough to admit. And the goal? "That's to finish in the top ten there, so that's what we're aiming for."