Bora-Hansgrohe denied any form of intimidation regarding the contractual dispute around Cian Uijtdebroeks. Neither Uijtdebroeks nor his agent commented on the exact reasons for the contract termination, but a report from the Dutch newspaper AD suggests that the 20-year-old cyclist felt intimidated by riders and staff. The team denied the allegations.
“He was intimidated,” the report continued. “For example, during the Vuelta, there was also an ‘Anti-Cian’ campaign in a group chat without him, so they could gossip about him. It’s really very childish. He didn’t feel at home in that team.”
BORA-Hansgrohe’s Counterpoint
Bernhard Eisel, sports director at Bora-Hansgrohe, participated in the Vuelta and played a crucial role in the team that supported Uijtdebroeks to secure a top-ten position in the general classification. Eisel vehemently refuted any claims or insinuations of intimidating practices within the team.
“100% I can deny that. Definitely not. Especially from my side and from the side of the riders.” Although there were frictions between Uijtdebroeks and teammate Aleksandr Vlasov at the Vuelta, Eisel emphasized that both riders were well-supported.
“He had a team taking care of him, Aleks Vlasov had a team taking care of him, and from my point of view, they did an amazing job protecting him. We did everything we could for him. I have to deny that. It’s as simple as that. 100% not,” he said.
“Honestly, I’m tired of all this. I would say it was three times more effort for him than for Aleks on paper. If that’s not enough, it’ll be tough. From a professional point of view, the support was 100% for him in the race. I’m not willing to add more. We did what we could, and that’s it,” concluded Bernhard Eisel, team manager at the Vuelta a España.