Cian Uijtdebroeks delivers positive Vuelta fitness update after Tour de France illness

The Movistar rider provided an update on his recovery on social media, several weeks after his Tour ended during stage six.

“After leaving the Tour due to illness, we started together with Xabier Muriel [trainer] and the team a rebuild and preparation for La Vuelta,” Uijtdebroeks wrote on Instagram.

“Day by day and step by step we work to be 100% at the start in Monaco. Looking forward to be in the peloton again soon!”

Uijtdebroeks had gone into the Tour as one of Movistar’s main general classification hopes, but illness quickly derailed his race. After struggling for several days, the team eventually made the decision to pull him out during stage six rather than allow him to continue while unwell.

The Vuelta now offers the 23-year-old an immediate opportunity to reset his season.

Uijtdebroeks is expected to form part of a two pronged leadership approach alongside Enric Mas, who is also heading to the Vuelta after a difficult first Grand Tour of the season.

Mas had entered the Giro d’Italia with podium ambitions but never reached his usual level after an injury disrupted build up to the season. Speaking ahead of the Vuelta, the Spaniard has repeatedly played down expectations and insisted he will assess his condition as the race develops.

“I’ll take it day by day,” Mas told AS during the Vuelta a Burgos. “After the Giro, I need to see how I’m going, how I develop and whether I’m feeling good every day.”

Uijtdebroeks now appears to be taking a similarly measured approach to his own return.

That leaves Movistar heading into the final Grand Tour of the season with two potential general classification leaders, but also two riders whose form remains difficult to predict.

While Mas and Uijtdebroeks head towards the Vuelta with questions still surrounding their condition, teammate Iván Romeo will arrive in Monaco with momentum behind him.

The 22-year-old finished third overall at the Tour de Pologne on Sunday, securing his first WorldTour stage race podium after an impressive performance in the final individual time trial. Romeo finished fourth on the 12.5km course, just five seconds behind stage winner Stefan Küng.

“Happy to be back,” Romeo wrote after the race, reflecting on what he described as a difficult few months before adding: “See you soon in Monaco.”

Romeo was forced to abandon the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes through illness, which also ruled him out of the Tour de France. Like Mas and Uijtdebroeks, the Spaniard will therefore head to the final Grand Tour of the year looking to put a difficult period behind him.

He may not have to wait long for his first opportunity. The Vuelta begins on August 22 with a 9.4 km individual time trial through the streets of Monaco, a stage that should suit Romeo after his strong showing against the clock in Poland.

One thing is clear: Movistar will arrive at the Vuelta with three highly motivated riders looking to turn the disappointments of their season so far into something positive.