The transfer dispute over top Belgian cycling talent Cian Uijtdebroeks is becoming increasingly bizarre. Although the UCI world association still lists him as a Bora-hansgrohe rider, the Visma-Lease a Bike team has already presented him as a new addition.
The 20-year-old took part in the presentation of the Visma-Lease a Bike team around Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard in Amsterdam on Thursday (December 21, 2023). “It’s very nice to be here. I trained with the team last week, everything is very structured. Everyone wants the maximum”said Uijtdebroeks.
However, there is still no confirmation of this transfer from Bora-hansgrohe; the UCI continues to list Uijtdebroeks as a driver for the German racing team for the upcoming 2024 season.
Vingegaard and Kuss extend at Visma
At the presentation, Visma also announced the contract extensions with its top stars Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss. “I feel very at home with this team“, said the Dane Vingegaard, who has signed until 2028: “And we are very successful with our joint approach. This is where my future lies, and I’m proud of it.”
American Vuelta winner Kuss, who extended until 2027, said: “This team is a family. It feels good to continue to build on this in the coming years.”
Uijtdebroeks at Visma planned for the Giro
It is becoming increasingly clear that Uijtebroeks will also belong to this family, but it remains extremely unclear. Recently there had been confusion about its future. After the announcement of the transfer by Visma-Lease a Bike, the German racing team Bora-hansgrohe, for whom Uijtdebroeks drove in the 2023 season, objected.
Next year Uijtdebroeks is scheduled to compete in the Giro d’Italia: “I’m really looking forward to it. We want to win stages. I myself will have a free role without pressure and want to prove myself in the overall classification.” The Dutch racing team Visma-Lease a Bike, previously listed under the name Jumbo-Visma, achieved something historic last year and won all three major national tours with three different winners.