Nine phases into the 2024 Giro d’Italia, after the early mountain phases, the gravel stage and the time trial, Cian Uijtdebroeks continues to be smiling.
The 21-year-old Belgian has survived the primary block of racing, is fifth general behind Tadej Pogačar, leads the perfect younger rider competitors and is carrying the white jersey. He has a lot to smile about.
Other riders channel their internal dedication, feed off anger in opposition to another person or take numerous caffeine to drive their ambitions. Uijtdebroeks is formidable however prefers to smile at life, and the ache, and expectations of the Giro d’Italia.
“I’m simply having fun with using my bike day by day and making an attempt to get the utmost out of it. That’s what I love to do,” Uijtdebroeks instructed Cyclingnews and different media throughout the remainder day in Naples after a soothing morning trip together with his Visam-Lease a Bike teammates close to Naples.
“The smile is at all times there as a result of I race with out stress, with out worrying an excessive amount of about what I must do, I simply attempt to get pleasure from it and have enjoyable. I believe that is one of the best ways to realize your goals.”
By carrying the white jersey for a lot of the first week, Uijtdebroeks has frolicked racing alongside Pogačar and even warming down shoulder to shoulder within the podium space because the Slovenian wins phases and pulls on the pink jersey.
Like most riders within the peloton, Uijtdebroeks admires Pogačar; there isn’t any envy or anger towards his dominance.
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“If anyone wins rather a lot there, there are at all times feedback, however I believe he is a man who’s nonetheless liked within the bunch,” Uijtdebroeks steered.
“I believe he is simply so robust, the day of Prati di Tivo was in all probability extra of a relaxation day for him, particularly for those who see what he did within the lead-out within the dash in Naples. I do not know if he’s getting uninterested in all of it, will see within the subsequent two weeks.”
The relaxation day was a second for Uijtdebroeks to look again at his personal efficiency through the opening 9 phases. He prevented main issues, illness, crashes and unhealthy days, giving him a way of optimism.
“I’m actually pleased with the place the place I’m now, I stunned myself a bit,” he stated.
“I assumed I’d lose extra within the TT and have extra difficulties on the gravel stage however I really loved it just about, we have survived it fairly effectively.
“We labored rather a lot in the previous couple of months on my time trialling. I believe we made some good progress, however it’ll take one or two years, perhaps, to get that basically, actually excellent.”
Uijtdebroeks’ subsequent aim is to carry out effectively on Tuesday’s mountain end to Cusano Mutri, deep in central Italy. The dash phases north alongside the Adriatic coast can be about restoration earlier than Saturday’s Lake Garda time trial after which the climb excessive into the Alps over the steep Mortirolo and as much as the end in Livigno.
He leads Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) by simply 21 seconds, and the Italian has emerged as Uijtdebroeks’ largest rival for a spot within the prime 5 and the wire jersey. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) is one other hazard, however Uijtdebroeks’ defence is easy.
“My technique is to go day by day as exhausting as doable,” he stated. “If I’m on the rostrum this Giro, then it will be actually, actually, actually wonderful.
“There is one man on one other planet and behind the battle is open, so it’ll be a very nice struggle. Top 5 can be a pleasant outcome however it’s nonetheless an extended race, so I do not actually take a look at numbers and the classification for the second. I simply look daily and get the utmost out of it day by day. I do not actually put an excessive quantity or one thing on it. I simply attempt to do my greatest day by day.
“There will not be actually a giant distinction between competing for the GC and competing for the white jersey. I simply attempt to get the utmost out of it, after which we’ll ultimately, in Rome, if it is in white or not.”
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