What has happened so far: Transfer dispute over top talent Uijtdebroeks degenerates

Professional cycling has not seen anything like this for a long time. On Saturday a transfer posse broke out around Cian Uijtdebroek'swhich degenerated into a public mud fight within the cycling circus. What had happened?

The Jumbo-Visma team, which will be called Visma | Lease a Bike in the future, announced the presumed signing of Cian Uijtdebroeks for the 2024 season on Saturday. However, this was followed shortly afterwards by a denial from Bora-Hansgrohe. "Cian is and will remain a member of Bora-Hansgrohe, also in the coming 2024 season. He is contractually bound to us until 31 December 2024," the German World Tour team wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

Bora-Hansgrohe probably sets price tag for Cian Uijtdebroeks

Team boss Ralph Denk's squad is insisting on the 20-year-old Belgian's contract, which runs until the end of 2024. But apparently not at any price. Bora-Hansgrohe is said to be willing to let the highly talented rider go for a transfer fee of around one million euros. This was reported by the Dutch cycling portal Wielerflits on Sunday, citing several sources.

It remains to be seen whether the two teams will now come closer together, whether the matter is clearer than many believe or whether a protracted legal dispute will follow. The world cycling organisation UCI, which would have had to approve the termination of Uijtdebroeks' contract with Bora-Hansgrohe as a prerequisite for a move to Visma | Lease a Bike, has not yet commented on the matter.

The UCI remains silent

For the top talent, the matter is clear: In a statement from Uijtdebroeks' consultant agency A&J All Sports, which the youngster shared on Instagram on Saturday, it says: "The contract between Cian Uijtdebroeks and Bora-Hansgrohe has been terminated as of 1 December 2023. Cian has already taken legal action and the UCI has been informed of the termination of the agreement." In contrast, Bora-Hansgrohe has stated that the contract is still valid until 31 December 2024. Only the UCI can shed light on this, but so far they have remained silent ... in complete contrast to some team bosses.

Cedric Vasseur demands resignation of Richard Plugge

Cedric Vasseur demanded the resignation of Jumbo-Visma manager Richard Plugge as chairman of the AIGCP, the team association. "What is this again from the AIGCP president? You must respect the rules and resign immediately. Out!", commented the Cofidis team boss under Plugge's post on X on the presumed signing of Uijtdebroeks.

Patrick Lefevere, head of the Belgian racing team Soudal - Quick Step, also contacted X and described his view of the situation. He believes that Bora-Hansgrohe is right in the case of Cian Uijtdebroek.

Patrick Lefevere takes a swipe at Ralph Denk

"In my opinion, Cian Uijtdebroeks has a contract until the end of 2024. He has taken on an agent A&J All Sporthe knew the situation. The UCI had to abide by its own rules. Only if 3 parties agree can there be a transfer with the authorisation of the UCI."

Although Lefevere backed Bora-Hansgrohe, he also took a swipe at Ralph Denk. This was about the year 2021, when there was speculation about the future of the then Deceuninck-Quick Step team. According to Lefevere, Denk allegedly tried to take over his team, including superstar Remco Evenepoel, which the German denied.

"On 21 January 2021, I met Ralph Denk in Brussels. We agreed to wait until at least the end of March, the 31st, to make an offer to Remco Evenepoel, after I would have sacked my drivers if I had no future. On 8 March, he made a written offer to Remco's father, so please don't cry now," writes Lefevere at X.

Cian Uijtdebroeks to take part in Jumbo-Visma training camp

Uijtdebroeks himself trained on Sunday near Girona in Spain. A photo that Chris Froome posted on X shows the Belgian youngster riding on a country road with Froome and four other team-mates of the four-time Tour de France winner. Probably with a Bora-Hansgrohe helmet, but not in the Raubling-based team's uniform. Jumbo-Visma also confirmed on Monday to Cyclingnewsthat Uijtdebroeks will take part in the Dutch team's training camp in Denia, Spain, from Tuesday. "The team is going to the training camp. And we have introduced Cian as our newest member, so yes. He will be with us," it says.

The youngster has already given the impression in the past of wanting to provoke a premature departure from Bora-Hansgrohe. For example, he practised publicly criticised the material after the Chrono des Nations in October.

Whatever the outcome of Uijtdebroek's case, one thing is already certain: his image and that of cycling has suffered massively as a result of this transfer farce. Or, as Brent Copeland, manager of Team Jayco-AlUla, puts it X formulated. "Embarrassing is an understatement."