The transfer of Uijtdebroeks to Visma-Lease a Bike is unfolding in increasingly darker directions. According to journalist Thijs Zonneveld of AD, the 20-year-old was subjected to bullying at BORA-hansgrohe due to his excessive enthusiasm for the sport, being labeled as “weird.”
Baptism ritual
Several sources confirmed the harassment to the Belgian newspaper The Latest News and revealed further neglect. Things reportedly went wrong from the start when Uijtdebroeks joined the team in 2022. According to the newspaper, the young Belgian would have undergone a kind of baptismal ritual, a common practice in student clubs but apparently also in cycling teams.
Cian Uijtdebroeks, a young talent on the BORA-hansgrohe team, reportedly faced bullying during an initiation ritual. The initiation involved drinking beer, which Uijtdebroeks refused due to his non-alcoholic preferences. Consequently, the beverage was allegedly poured over him against his will. Some teammates reportedly substituted water for beer in their bottles to protect him. Following this incident, Uijtdebroeks distanced himself from the group, preferring solitude in his room during social moments, and opting for an early bedtime.
The situation became more distressing with reports that some team members were involved in the bullying. Fortunately, a few teammates showed support for the young talent. During the Vuelta, at least one colleague reportedly refused to participate in the harassment, deeming the actions unacceptable and expressing clear disapproval. Others expressed disinterest in the situation.
The career manager of Cian, Alex Carera, would indeed have invoked “employer’s misconduct” as an “urgent reason” for the termination of the contract. “Bullying can be a reason to terminate a contract for urgent reasons,” says Frank Hendrickx, a professor of labor law and sports law at KU Leuven.