On Wednesday night, rumors about the future of Cian Uijtdebroeks, a highly regarded young Belgian cyclist, surfaced, with speculation of a possible transfer to the Groupama-FDJ team.
Despite the lack of substance to these rumors, British journalist Daniel Benson from the GCN channel reported that the cyclist is currently involved in negotiations with proposals from both Lidl-Trek and Ineos Grenadiers for the 2025 season. His current team, Bora-Hansgrohe, wishes to extend his existing contract, which runs until the end of 2024.
Uijtdebroeks, the winner of the 2022 Tour de l’Avenir, had a remarkable season in 2023, achieving a top 10 placement in every stage he competed in, including an impressive eighth place in the Vuelta a España.
Possible leadership in the 2024 Giro d’Italia
With Bora-Hansgrohe securing the signing of Primož Roglič for the next two years, it appears that leadership in the team for the Tour de France is established. However, there are expectations that Uijtdebroeks will have the opportunity to lead in the Giro d’Italia in 2024, either as the undisputed leader or as a co-captain.
The core racing team for 2024 at Bora currently includes Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov, Dani Martínez, and Roglič. However, the German team remains interested in extending Uijtdebroeks’ contract and sees him as a potential successor to Roglič in the coming years.
Ineos without any new signings
INEOS’ management has been long-time admirers of the 20-year-old Belgian cyclist and has been following his progress throughout the season. The British team has been linked to Roglič and several other Grand Tour leaders, including Remco Evenepoel, but so far, they have not announced any significant signings for the next year.