Cian Uijtdebroeks struggles at the Tour de France: fever and delays in the standings for the young Movistar rider

Cian Uijtdebroeks had everything it took to impress in his first Tour de France. Arriving at Movistar with high expectations, the young Belgian had demonstrated excellent qualities in preparation for the Grande Boucle, finishing in the top 10 at the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes . But the first three days of racing told a very different story than expected.

The problem began in the opening team time trial, with Uijtdebroeks clearly struggling on the final climb to Montjuïc , under oppressive heat. The second stage, finishing in Barcelona, ​​made matters worse: the 23-year-old crossed the finish line 27 seconds behind the leading group. And on day three, entering the Pyrenees, he lost another full minute to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), the current race leader. The result? Uijtdebroeks finds himself 19th in the general classification, 3 minutes and 24 seconds behind the yellow jersey after just three stages.

Movistar broke the silence with an official statement, explaining the cause of their rider's problems: "It wasn't the start to the Tour he was hoping for, although he has the support of all his teammates and staff during these difficult days." The Spanish team later revealed that Uijtdebroeks had been battling a fever since the second day of the race, which forced him to tackle the final two stages in less than optimal physical condition.

The runner himself, at the end of the third stage, did not hide the difficulties but demonstrated his full character: "When you're not well it's tough, but I fought. I've had a fever since yesterday. I hope I can continue running." And he added with determination: "I can certainly still recover."

A complicated situation, considering that the weather ahead is anything but mild: the fourth stage brings intense heat and several challenging sections, while the sixth offers a respectable Pyrenean menu, with the Col d'Aspin and the legendary Col du Tourmalet , before the uphill finish in Gavarnie-Gèdre. Not exactly ideal for someone trying to overcome a fever.

Movistar has announced that it will continue to monitor the situation stage by stage. Uijtdebroeks, it should be remembered, had already had a difficult start to the season in his new jersey: a fractured elbow at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana forced him to retire on his debut. However, he then improved, finishing eighth at the Volta a Catalunya and seventh at the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes.

Fantacycling advice: If you have Uijtdebroeks on your team, the situation is delicate. The Belgian is already far behind in the general classification, and the upcoming Pyrenean stages won't favor a quick recovery. Keep an eye on him, but don't expect any major points in the coming days: the priority right now is simply getting to Paris.