How the top talents fared in 2023: Uijtdebroeks' breakthrough with lots of background noise
Sebastian Lindner
· 24.12.2023
After a long hiccup, the transfer posse surrounding Cian Uijtdebroeks came to an end just before Christmas. The youngster is moving from Bora-Hansgrohe to Visma | Lease a Bike. However, there is no winner in this transfer squabble over the young Belgian. Especially not Uijtdebroeks himself, even if his wish is fulfilled and he rides for the Dutch team next year. No 20-year-old can benefit from such a fuss about himself.
Uijtdebroeks finishes in the top 10 in all tours
In sporting terms, things went all the better for Cian Uijtdebroeks in 2023. The renowned tour rider, who has his strengths in the mountains, but also says he still has potential in the battle against the clock, competed in six stage races. With the exception of the Tour of the Alps, where he did not start the second stage due to illness, he finished all other tours in the top 10.
With the exception of the Tour of Oman, which he completed in February at the start of the season after his opening race in Mallorca, all of them were part of the World Tour. In Oman, he finished in 9th place, just as he did around five weeks later in the Tour of Catalonia. Another month later, he finished 6th in the Tour de Romandie. Uijtdebroeks achieved these results with a conspicuously inconspicuous riding style and only one single-digit result per race. He rides economically, hides whenever he can and doesn't waste energy. He only goes on the offensive when it is really necessary. On the bike, Uijtdebroeks is surprisingly experienced for his young age.
Uijtdebroeks fights for a free role at the Vuelta with top results
Then came the Tour de Suisse. In the midst of the professionals who were putting the finishing touches to the Tour de France, Uijtdebroeks sold himself just as strongly. Despite two time trials in which he lost more than a minute on the absolute leaders in each case, he ultimately finished in 7th place overall thanks to 4th and 5th place on the most difficult stages. As the youngster sold himself dearly throughout the season, he went into his season highlight, his first Grand Tour, with a free role.
At the Vuelta, Uijtdebroeks rode alongside captain Aleksandr Vlasov for a long time. They both lost time on stage 6, but the Belgian lost less than the Russian. In the internal team duel, however, he took it back in the time trial. Uijtdebroeks is better again on the legendary mountains. On the Col du Tourmalet, only the outstanding Jumbo-Visma trio of Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and the eventual overall winner Sepp Kuss were better. Together with Juan Ayuso, who is only half a year older, he then crosses the finish line.
Conclusion: Cian Uijtdebroeks has the potential to win the Grand Tour
It looks similar at L'Angliru. Jumbo rides ahead again and somewhere behind him Uijtdebroeks finishes seventh in the middle of the best of the rest. Again far ahead of Vlasov, who is seven seconds faster than his team-mate after 21 stages and finishes directly ahead of him in seventh overall.
During the three weeks in Spain, it became apparent for the first time that there was a crisis between Uijtdebroeks and the team. It becomes even clearer at the end of the Belgian's season at the Chrono des Nations time trial competition, when he publicly criticised the material. At the Vuelta, he had already questioned the team tactics with the media.
We may never know what the reasons for the differences between team and rider are. What is beyond doubt, however, is that Cian Uijtdebroek has the talent, will and ability for a great career as a tour rider - if he can continue to concentrate on the sport. A victory in a Grand Tour? More likely than not, although it will still be too early for that in 2024.
