'They want to go all in' - Uijtdebroeks explains surprise Movistar move

“No, not at all,” Cian Uijtdebroeks laughed in Bama when asked if he had expressly wanted to come to the Tour of Guangxi. But he isn’t complaining about being here either, despite the long-haul flight to China just hours after he placed tenth at Il Lombardia last weekend.

“My idea was more to finish in Italy the season and build up to next year, but the team didn’t have many riders, and they wanted me to do it,” Uijtdebroeks told Domestique. “For sure, once I’m here, then I’m also switched on to go for a result.”

In any case, Uijtdebroeks’ willingness to show cause for Visma | Lease a Bike in China this week is in keeping with the amicable nature of his departure from the team. After the fractious farewell to Bora-Hansgrohe two years ago, Uijtdebroeks’ latest transfer was more a conscious uncoupling than a bitter divorce. 

“It was all handled in a really professional way,” he said. “I’m really happy with the decision.”

Visma could no longer offer Uijtdebroeks the space he felt he needed to grow, and so he opted to break his contract two years early and head for Movistar. The lack of friction from either party meant the discussions never produced the kind of heat that generates transfer rumours. The news landed as a done deal, catching even the most intrepid transfer gurus by surprise.

“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,” Uijtdebroeks said. “We decided it with me, my manager and the team to go that way, and that was the best way for the future.

“I want to compete in the Grand Tours and in the bigger one-week stage races, like I also did in 2023. 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. 

“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.”

Together with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Visma have dominated three-week racing in the 2020s, while Movistar’s last victory in a Grand Tour came with Nairo Quintana almost a decade ago at the 2016 Vuelta a España. 

Even so, Eusebio Unzué’s squad still possess what José Mourinho might refer to as Grand Tour heritage. They started winning three-week races as Reynolds with Pedro Delgado in the 1980s, hit their pomp as Banesto with Miguel Induráin in the 1990s, and added more in the 21st century through Oscar Pereiro, Alejandro Valverde and Quintana.

After losing out to Lidl-Trek in the Juan Ayuso sweepstakes, Movistar turned their attention to securing Uijtdebroeks – who placed 8th on the 2023 Vuelta – as a GC leader alongside Enric Mas. The Belgian was immediately taken by their overtures.

“It was just nice opportunity that came up. When a chance like this is there, you need to take it,” Uijtdebroeks said. “My first impressions are really, really good. They are really warm, like a family, actually. They are just super nice, and it seems like being a great atmosphere. In the past, they had great results in the Grand Tours. They just look really motivated to me, and really warm and welcoming people.”

Before his formal induction into Unzué’s ‘Holy Family,’ Uijtdebroeks bids his final farewell to Visa in China this week. His tenure at Richard Plugge’s team never lived up to the expectations that followed his transfer from Bora-Hansgrohe, but circumstances played a heavy part. Illness plagued his 2024 season, while a sciatic nerve issue put him on the sidelines earlier this year.

“I think I learned a lot from my time with Visma,” he said. “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. 

“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.”

Uijtdebroeks will hope that his first pro win at the Tour de l’Ain in August was a portent of things to come in that regard. The Tour of Guangxi’s lone summit finish at Nongla on Saturday offers the chance both to bid farewell to Visma and lay down a marker for 2026.

“Of course, I’ve felt the jetlag a little bit, but until now the feeling on the bike is good,” he said. “I’m curious to see how I’ll feel tomorrow.”