Cian Uijtdebroeks has introduced that he is calling an finish to his 2024 season, with no extra races on the schedule this 12 months for the Belgian racer.
The 21-year-old raced his first season with Visma-Lease A Bike this 12 months following a controversial cut up with Bora-Hansgrohe, although sickness has prevented him from hitting the heights that noticed him end within the prime 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 present engaged on some bodily points to be prepared for 2025. Wanting ahead to start out build up once more.”
Uijtdebroeks will probably be hoping for a greater marketing campaign in 2025 following a 12 months which noticed him tackle each the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España earlier than being compelled to desert each attributable to sickness.
2024 season highlights have included prime 10 finishes at O Gran Camiño and Tirreno-Adriatico, however he was compelled to desert the Giro d’Italia from fifth place whereas carrying the very 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 total competition earlier than ultimately being compelled out of the race on stage 15 with a COVID-19 an infection.
“I journey as arduous as I can, my coronary heart charge shouldn’t be on the restrict, however I nonetheless have a numb feeling in my legs and the whole lot simply blocks,” he stated in the course of the Vuelta. “Now we have typically stated that it could possibly be attributable to fatigue or this or that, but it surely can’t be that it retains coming again. It can’t be fatigue each time.
“Till final 12 months I by no means had this. I’ve by no means skilled using round with such a numb feeling. Even after I contact them, my legs really feel numb. I simply cannot do something anymore. That is not regular.”
Uijtdebroeks’ travails have been typical of Visma-Lease A Bike’s season following a 12 months which noticed the crew sweep the three Grand Excursions.
Star riders have fallen sufferer to crashes and diseases 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 attributable to an extended restoration from a career-threatening crash suffered at Itzulia Basque Nation.
