Cian Uijtdebroeks delivered an impressive performance in the initial mountain phase of the Vuelta. The talented Belgian cyclist showcased his ability by competing on par with the leading athletes in the classification, finishing in a notable eighth place.
In the overall competition standings, Uijtdebroeks holds the eighth position. “This gives confidence to my ambition of finishing in the top 10,” the Belgian stated after the stage concluded.
“Of course, it was tough, but in the end, it wasn’t so bad. I’m still missing a sprint. The pace was good. Now it depends on how I can recover. I hope to get a little better each day,” an optimistic Uijtdebroeks revealed to the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. “Especially on climbs, I gained confidence.”
Uijtdebroeks: “My sprint isn’t as strong”
“It was getting faster and there was a threat of a gap, but when Kuss and Soler started to pick up the pace, it suited me,” Uijtdebroeks adds about the final of the stage. “I don’t really like these changes of pace, accelerating, decelerating… The fact that they increased the speed and maintained it was perfect for me. My sprint isn’t so explosive. I don’t have that power yet. I was there, and I’m very happy about that,” the Belgian concludes.”