Wout van Aert could also be a much-missed determine for Belgian followers at this 12 months’s Giro d’Italia, however a formidable debut for his compatriot and teammate Cian Uijtdebroeks has absolutely sparked a contemporary wave of curiosity again dwelling within the Italian Grand Tour.
Eighth within the Vuelta a España final 12 months, the Visma-Lease a Bike racer had already been tipped by Belgium, in addition to biking’s greatest-ever racer Eddy Merckx, as a robust candidate for the Giro’s finest younger rider classification.
“He’s not on the stage of a Tadej Pogačar,” Merckx advised la Gazzetta dello Sport this week, “however he can nonetheless do an awesome Giro.”
There isn’t any realizing if Merckx’s feedback had served as inspiration to the 21-year-old Uijtdebroeks on the Oropa summit end climb on Sunday. But in any case, by ending a scant 30 seconds off the tempo on stage 2 behind winner Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), the younger Belgian is now fourth total and is having fun with the beginning of a spell within the white jersey as finest younger rider, his first in a Grand Tour.
“I didn’t consider getting the white jersey at present, however I rode as exhausting as I might and I’ve acquired it, which is unbelievable,” Uijtdebroeks advised Sporza.be.
“When I first heard that I used to be in white, I couldn’t imagine it, I assumed they will need to have made a mistake. But the truth is I’m very contented to have taken my first Grand Tour classification jersey.”
Rather than danger blowing up by reacting to each transfer, Uijtdebroeks mentioned he had ridden at his personal tempo on the 11-kilometre Oropa. He identified that in a dash on the end, the place he positioned seventh, he knew in any case that he wouldn’t be up there.
As for whether or not he’ll be capable of defend his lead, Uijtdebroeks echoed the phrases of Pogačar, saying that there was nonetheless an extended option to go and numerous challenges to return.
“I’m wanting ahead to the phases with longer climbs, and I felt good on the steep elements of the climb at present, too. And in fact, this can be a jersey you don’t quit and not using a battle.”
Pogačar was the Tour de France’s finest younger rider for 4 consecutive years and gained the youth classification on the 2019 Vuelta a España. Pogačar’s eligibility to win Grand Tour white jerseys has expired since he turned 25 in September 2023.
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