Cian Uijtdebroeks not heading to Groupama-FDJ but Lidl-Trek and Ineos possibilities for 2025 transfer

Belgian star had been linked with French team but is not set to leave Bora-Hansgrohe early

13:13, Tuesday 10th October 2023

Daniel Benson

Editor in Chief

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Cian Uijtdebroeks signed for Bora-Hansgrohe in 2022 on a three-year contract

On Wednesday evening, reports began to circulate surrounding the future of Cian Uijtdebroeks with the highly-rated Belgian linked with a move to Groupama-FDJ.

While those reports are unfounded, GCN can reveal that the rider is in the middle of negotiations with offers on the table from both Lidl-Trek and Ineos Grenadiers. His current team Bora-Hansgrohe are keen to extend his existing deal, which currently runs until the end of 2024.

Uijtdebroeks, a former Tour de l'Avenir winner, had a breakthrough season in 2023, finishing inside the top 10 in every stage race he entered, including eighth at the Vuelta a España.

With Bora-Hansgrohe signing Primož Roglič for the next two years the leadership for the Tour de France looks settled, but it is expected that Uijtdebroeks will be given the chance to lead the line at the Giro d’Italia in 2024 as either an outright leader or a co-captain.

Ineos Grenadiers have been long-time admirers of the 20-year-old Belgian and have been tracking him throughout the season. The British team were linked to Roglič and several other Grand Tour leaders, including Remco Evenepoel, but have yet to announce a single major signing for next year.

Lidl-Trek have been one of the most active squads on the transfer market. The team has already signed Tao Geoghegan Hart from Ineos Grenadiers, and were heavily linked to Roglič until they were priced out of the market.

The 2024 stage racing core at Bora currently includes Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov, Dani Martínez and Roglič. However, the German team remain keen to extend Uijtdebroeks' contract and see him as a potential successor to Roglič in years to come.

To be clear, no deal has been made and there is still a more than reasonable chance of Uijtdebroeks staying at Bora. There is no sense of the rider being unhappy or disillusioned at his current team.