End to the Cian Uijtdebroeks affair: he will be a cyclist for Visma with everyone's agreement
The Belgian cyclist signs a 4-year contract with Visma-Lease a Bike after Bora-Hansgrohe gave way and let him go. This puts an end to the latest preseason cycling saga that threatened to end in a fierce legal battle for the rights of Cian Uijtdebroeks. As expected, the UCI has given the green light to the agreement.
Cian Uijtdebroeks will be a rider for Visma-Lease a Bike for the next 4 years
With a brief statement, Bora-Hansgrohe and Cian Uijtdebroeks ended the contract of the promising Belgian cyclist by mutual agreement, a fact that will be effective on December 31. Accompanying this statement are some words from Ralph Denk, manager of the German team expressing that it was a day of mixed feelings: “I am glad that the dust has settled and the matter is now closed.
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The agreement shows that it is never too late for a personal and reasonable conversation”. At the same time, he left a small message “I would like this case to remain an isolated incident for the cycling family: let's respect contracts and rules, let's be fair to everyone”, concluded the Bora leader.
The decision of Bora-Hansgrohe is surprising, especially when a few days ago it was revealed that Bora-Hansgrohe would have demanded one million euros to grant the freedom letter to the cyclist. In any case, the important thing is that the cyclist is now free and, therefore, the UCI has proceeded to officially grant the 4-year contract that Cian Uijtdebroeks had already signed with Visma-Lease a Bike, in fact, the cyclist was already present at the recent concentration of the squad on the roads of Girona although wearing a completely black outfit until the official presentation of the team where Visma-Lease a Bike threw a challenge making him appear already dressed in the new colors.
Let's remember that Cian Uijtdebroeks, at just 20 years old, is one of the most promising cyclists on the international scene with his victory in 2022 in the Tour of the Future and a 2023 in which he has rubbed shoulders with the best cyclists in the world being able to boast of having occupied the Top 10 in Vuelta a Catalunya, Tour de Romandia, Tour de Suisse and Vuelta a España. Next season, in principle, he will lead the Visma-Lease a Bike team in the Giro d'Italia.