Cian Uijtdebroeks has introduced that he is calling an finish to his 2024 season, with no extra races on the schedule this yr for the Belgian racer.
The 21-year-old raced his first season with Visma-Lease A Bike this yr following a controversial cut up with Bora-Hansgrohe, although sickness has prevented him from hitting the heights that noticed him end within the high 10 on his Grand Tour debut on the 2023 Vuelta a España.
“My season of 2024 is over,” Uijtdebroeks wrote on Instagram. “Taking some good relaxation and at the moment engaged on some bodily points to be prepared for 2025. Looking ahead to start out increase once more.”
Uijtdebroeks shall be hoping for a greater marketing campaign in 2025 following a yr which noticed him tackle each the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España earlier than being compelled to desert each as a result of sickness.
2024 season highlights have included high 10 finishes at O Gran Camiño and Tirreno-Adriatico, however he was compelled to desert the Giro d’Italia from fifth place whereas sporting one of the best younger rider’s jersey on stage 11.
At his late-season purpose, the Vuelta, he complained of ‘numb legs’ as he fell out of general competition earlier than ultimately being compelled out of the race on stage 15 with a COVID-19 an infection.
“I experience as arduous as I can, my coronary heart price is just not on the restrict, however I nonetheless have a numb feeling in my legs and every little thing simply blocks,” he mentioned through the Vuelta. “We have typically mentioned that it might be as a result of fatigue or this or that, however it can’t be that it retains coming again. It can’t be fatigue each time.
“Until final yr I by no means had this. I’ve by no means skilled driving round with such a numb feeling. Even once I contact them, my legs really feel numb. I simply can’t do something anymore. That’s not regular.”
Uijtdebroeks’ travails have been typical of Visma-Lease A Bike’s season following a yr which noticed the staff sweep the three Grand Tours.
Star riders have fallen sufferer to crashes and sicknesses all through the season. Wout van Aert missed the majority of the spring Classics following a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen earlier than later crashing out of the Vuelta whereas main the factors and mountains classifications. Jonas Vingegaard’s bid for a 3rd Tour de France was additionally derailed as a result of an extended restoration from a career-threatening crash suffered at Itzulia Basque Country.
