Surprise break: Uijtdebroeks leaves Visma for Movistar

Uijtdebroeks, 22, first announced himself by winning the 2022 Tour de l’Avenir, and he has since built a reputation as a gifted stage racer. He placed second in the best young rider standings at the 2023 Vuelta a España, wore the white jersey at the 2024 Giro d’Italia, and this year added overall victory at the Tour de l’Ain. He also came close to winning the Czech Tour, but somehow, ended up finishing second in the general classification.

This is now the second contract break of Uijtdebroeks' young career after the 22-year-old Belgian mutually terminated his contract with Bora-Hansgrohe in December 2023 after a long and lengthy dispute, where he then joined Visma | Lease a Bike. His short stint at Visma | Lease a Bike had been ridiculed by injuries, but it appears a change of position on the bike had managed to fix all of those problems, which included weakness and a build-up of lactic acid.

Movistar general manager Eusebio Unzué welcomed the signing: “It is a privilege to support young riders with the ambition and talent of Cian. Not only because of what he can still achieve, but also for everything he has already shown. We feel fortunate that he has chosen us as the ideal team to continue building his promising professional career.”

For the young Uijtdebroeks, the move represents both a new challenge and a return to familiar surroundings. Based in Andorra, he frequently trains on Spanish roads and described Movistar as “a team where the human aspect truly matters, operating with the spirit of a family.” He added: “Movistar Team has a proud history in Grand Tours and WorldTour Classics. Riders like Valverde, Quintana, and Mas have achieved incredible successes here, and I hope to contribute to the team’s future victories.”

The Belgian also underlined his development goals: “I am now at a stage in my career where further growth as a GC rider in Grand Tours has become essential. I am convinced that Movistar Team, and riders like Enric Mas in particular, can help me in this discipline and achieve great results.”

Leaving Visma | Lease a Bike after two seasons, Uijtdebroeks expressed gratitude to his current team. “Over the past two years, I have learned a lot about training, nutrition, and many aspects of professional cycling. But I now feel it is time to open new horizons in my development and embrace new challenges.”

Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge acknowledged in honesty, the parting: “Together we have shared two intense years, and we were delighted to see Cian achieve his first professional victory for our team this year. But the honest truth is that Cian’s ambitions and those of the team have started to move in different directions. At this moment, we cannot offer Cian the role and race program that he considers essential for his development. After open and honest discussions, we agreed to his request to take a new step in his career. We wish him every success.”