"When a chance like this is there, you need to take it"; Cian Uijtdebroeks leaves Visma | Lease a Bike by choice

“I am now at a stage in my career where further development as a classification rider in major tours has become essential,” Uijtdebroeks said when announcing his transfer. “I am convinced that Movistar – and riders such as Enric Mas in particular – can help me grow in this discipline and achieve great results.”

The Belgian spoke of “a team that also has a strong tradition in hilly one-day classics.” “I believe this environment can help me develop into an important rider in the peloton,” said the Belgian, who left Visma | Lease a Bike after two years.

From the Tour of Guangxi, Uijtdebroeks looked back on his decision in conversation with Domestique. “It was all handled in a really professional way. I’m really happy with the decision. It was all really late, actually. Let’s say that things were done just before the Worlds, so it was all pretty late in the season.”

The decision to embark on a new adventure did not come out of the blue. ‘“We decided it with me, my manager and the team to go that way, and that was the best way for the future." The reasons for this are clear: “I want to compete in the Grand Tours and in the bigger one-week stage races, like I also did in 2023."

Because those are exactly the races where Uijtdebroeks sees his goals. “That’s just where my goals are, to try to become better and go from top 10 to top five to top three, get that progression.” To do that, he will have to rack up a lot of race kilometers. “I’m convinced that I need to do this in combination with smaller races that you can win, as I also did this year.”

And according to the Belgian, that also includes the Grand Tours. “I’m convinced that I need to do this in combination with smaller races that you can win, as I also did this year. I’m convinced that I also need to do three-week races to get better and to fight there for top five. So that will be thing, the chances I get at Movistar and also the support, with time trial and everything. They really want to go all-in, and that’s the reason I chose Movistar.”

In any case, the 22-year-old rider from Abolens didn't have to think long. “It was just nice opportunity that came up. When a chance like this is there, you need to take it.” The Belgian has already gotten to know his new team. “My first impressions are really, really good. They are really warm, like a family, actually. They are just super nice.”

As he mentioned earlier, history also played a role in his decision. “In the past, they had great results in the Grand Tours. They just look really motivated to me, and really warm and welcoming people,” he says, already full of praise for his new team.

Following his transfer from BORA-hansgrohe in the winter of 2023/2024, he was unable to continue the progress he had made with the German team. “I think I learned a lot from my time with Visma,” Uijtdebroeks says, looking back on his time with the Dutch team.

“I think you learn more from the negatives – and to be clear, I don’t mean to say it was negative at the team – so I learned a lot in training about what is important, what works for me, what doesn’t work for me, and about nutrition and bike position, obviously, where I need to pay attention,” he says.

“In previous years, I always followed the same system, but we tried some different things, including with the bike. We found out that some things just don’t work. This is really important for the future. I’ve got a better view on what is the perfect plan for all aspects that works for me,” concludes the Belgian rider.