Cian Uijtdebroeks joins Chris Froome for training as Bora demand €1 million from Jumbo-Visma

The short but explosive transfer saga surrounding Cian Uijtdebroeks has taken several twists in the last 24 hours with the Belgian star pictured on a training ride alongside Chris Froome, and Bora-Hansgrohe reportedly demanding €1 million from Jumbo-Visma to finalise a transfer for the want-away 20-year-old.

Rumours and speculation surrounding a possible transfer had been in motion for weeks, with Bora-Hansgrohe hinting that he would entertain offers for the Grand Tour rider. However, on Saturday evening Jumbo-Visma rocked the cycling world by announcing that they had signed Uijtdebroeks on a four-year deal. 

Bora-Hansgrohe immediately hit back on social media, stating that no deal had been agreed and reminding all parties concerned that the rider still had a contract with the German outfit for 2024.

Read more:

• Jumbo-Visma announce capture of Cian Uijtdebroeks from Bora-Hansgrohe for 2024
• Cian Uijtdebroeks terminated his contract with Bora-Hansgrohe but case is pending

Not to be outdone or left out, Uijtdebroeks released a statement of his own via his agent Alex Carera, announcing that he had terminated his contract with Bora on December 1, and that legal proceedings had been initiated. GCN understands that Uijtdebroeks signed his contract with Jumbo-Visma on Friday.

Bora-Hansgrohe’s December training camp starts Monday in Mallorca, Spain and Uijtdebroeks will not attend. On Sunday he was photographed in plain black, non-Bora kit after joining Chris Froome and his Israel-Premier Tech teammates for a training ride around Girona, Spain. The only hint of Bora clothing on the Belgian rider was his team-issue helmet.

The situation is far from clear and could rumble on for weeks, even months, but in order for a contract to be broken there must be a breach from either side. GCN understands that there was no breach from the side of Bora - for example, unpaid wages - and the team were even keen on extending the rider’s contract as recently as a couple of weeks ago.

For the transfer from Bora to Jumbo to work, all parties, including the teams and riders, must agree. Such a scenario played out perfectly in October with the transfer of Primož Roglič from Jumbo-Visma to Bora-Hansgrohe on a two-year deal but without Bora’s consent, a deal cannot be ratified by the sport’s governing body, as per the UCI’s rules. 

According to a report in Wielerflits, the German team is holding out for a compensation pack in the region of €1 million. However, the publication adds that Jumbo-Visma is only willing to offer the equivalent worth of one year of Uijtdebroeks’ salary. Neither team would comment when approached by GCN on Monday morning. The UCI has also yet to announce a statement.