Uijtdebroeks disappointed by ultimate collapse in Czech Republic: "Unfortunately, the course was just not tough enough for me"

The disappointment is understandable, of course, but it doesn't outweigh the positives. “I think we can be very proud of how we rode as a team today,” said Uijtdebroeks on the team's website. “From start to finish, we were always in control, took charge of the race, and laid our cards on the table in the finale. After the guys did a fantastic job preparing the way, it was up to me to try to finish it off and crack Lecerf.”

On the final climb, with about 3 kilometers to go, Uijtdebroeks wanted to power his way to the top in one go. “I didn’t look back once; I wanted to ride as hard as possible to the finish. At the end, my legs got heavy, and suddenly they came very fast from behind.” As a result, the 22-year-old climber finished second, while Lecerf took third place and snatched the overall victory from under his nose. “That’s unfortunate, but I don’t think we can blame ourselves. This was the maximum we could get out of today.”

Visma | Lease a Bike came to the Czech Republic with an extremely young selection: six of the seven riders were under 23, and with Ian Kings and Cedric Keppens, there were two teenagers at the start. Nevertheless, the team was at the front throughout the week. “We should be very proud of each other,” said Uijtdebroeks. “We shaped the race and rode offensively in the mountain stages. Unfortunately, the course was just not tough enough for me.”

Sports director Sierk Jan de Haan was also very pleased with the way the Killer Bees raced. “The guys executed everything we had agreed on perfectly. It seemed like we would put the finishing touch on our work today, but unfortunately, Cian’s legs gave out, and he couldn’t quite finish it off. Nevertheless, the good feeling prevails.”

With an inexperienced team, Visma | Lease a Bik managed to hold its own, which bodes well for the future. "I’m sure the guys have learned a lot here. They are not only coached from the team car but also guided by the experienced men on the road. You can see their confidence starting to grow. They will take all these learning moments into the future."