I started this post like three weeks ago — interrupted by real life family stuff** — and it was going around in circles a bit. Like, lots of teams had roster shakeups, like every year, plus a few new sponsors and whatnot. We almost had MergerMaNiA take over, but then we didn’t. It was just kind of a swirling mess of news. If only there was one news item that could make it clear who the big winners were…
Oh. Oh my god! Yeah, I think that will do it! The biggest team, reorganized, merged and then unmerged and then rebranded and where was this all going? Oh, right, they just picked up the one true new Belgian Climbing Sensation (BCS) and put a big giant exclamation point on the entire sport of cycling.
Of course, that’s assuming you can believe everything you read on Twitter. And even if you do, well, here is another thing.
Statement concerning today’s news from Jumbo – Visma regarding our rider Cian Uijtdebroeks
Cian is and will remain a member of BORA – hansgrohe, also in the coming 2024 season. He is contractually bound with us until 31 December 2024.
— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) December 9, 2023
Hot Damn!! We have ourselves a spicy conclusion to 2023, and I’m not just talking about the upcoming Kerstperiode Cyclocross Showdown! Clearly BORA knows if they have a contract or not, and as a lawyer I can tell you, you don’t tip your hand like this unless you are sure it’s actually your hand. It may just signal the start of a negotiation — Jumbo too aren’t stupid and probably know how this ends — but buckle up and don’t unsubscribe from any Belgian sports media accounts you follow. Especially the ones that now say that things may have gotten rather divisive behind the scenes at BORA.
Thijs Zonneveld: BORA riders had an ”anti-Cian’ app group during the Vuelta. ”Without Uijtdebroeks in it, so they could gossip about him.”
Not surprised he wanted to leave if this is the case. Bullying is not cool especially when they’re grown ass men. https://t.co/X8mpmocoZ4
— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) December 12, 2023
Oh, and maybe this is all a needless Belgiophilic distraction from the real news:
One of pro cycling’s next megastars
Albert Withen Philipsen will ride for Lidl-Trek in 2025 after signing a four-year deal – the Dane was crowned the youngest ever junior men’s road race world champion at just 16 years old earlier this year pic.twitter.com/fRY6jA1mA0
— Velon CC (@VelonCC) December 8, 2023
Cool!…
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