Visma-Lease a Bike have introduced that up-and-coming Belgian racer Cian Uijtdebroeks has ended his rollercoaster Vuelta a España early, pulling out earlier than stage 15 with COVID-19.
Eighth in final yr’s Vuelta a España however pressured to drag out of a promising Giro d’Italia this May with sickness, Uijtdebroeks got here into the Grand Tour with hopes of racing as Visma’s ‘Plan B’ alongside defending champion Sepp Kuss.
However, a tough first week within the warmth of southern Spain wrecked his GC hopes and he rode with what he referred to as a “paralysed feeling” in his legs. On stage 10, the primary within the north of Spain, he completed second final and an abandon appeared greater than possible.
However, Uijtdebroeks turned issues round nicely because the second week progressed, and on Saturday’s ultimate ascent, he did a colossal activate the entrance on the ultimate ascent, the first-category Leitariegos, to make sure Wout van Aert was ready to go for the lowered bunch dash at Villablino.
Speaking to Sporza earlier than the stage 14 begin, Uijtdebroeks mentioned that “The early days of the Vuelta have been tough for me, however now issues are generally going a bit higher, like yesterday [Friday].”
“I did not really feel that dangerous on the climb [the Ancares] I did not go all out both and on the finish I had that paralyzed feeling in my legs once more. But it was by no means corresponding to the primary day after the remainder day.”
However, of their X (previously Twitter) account on Sunday morning Visma-Lease A Bike introduced that “We are unhappy to speak that Cian Uijtdebroeks should withdraw from La Vuelta as a consequence of a Covid an infection. We want Cian a speedy restoration. Get nicely quickly, Cian!”
The second Visma-Lease a Bike to should stop the Vuelta early after Dylan van Baarle stop on stage 2 following a nasty crash precipitated him to interrupt his hip, Uijtdebroeks is much from the one case of an enforced abandon as a consequence of COVID-19 on this yr’s Vuelta.
Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) pulled out with COVID-19 earlier than stage 9 and Thymen Arensman and Laurens de Plus (each Ineos Grenadiers), Harold López (Astana), Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek) and Cofidis Ruben Fernández have all stop at completely different factors within the race for a similar motive.