Bora-Hansgrohe introduced they’ve reached an settlement to terminate the contract between them and Belgian Cian Uijtdebroeks, releasing him to formally be added to the Jumbo-Lease A Bike roster for 2024.
“The UCI has simply accredited the settlement in an pressing choice,” the press launch from Bora-Hansgrohe said. “Which means that the present rider contract between Cian Uijtdebroeks and Bora-Hansgrohe will probably be terminated by mutual settlement on December 31, 2023. Bora-Hansgrohe needs Cian Uijtdebroeks one of the best of luck within the subsequent step in his profession.”
Uijtdebroeks attended as we speak’s Visma-Lease A Bike workforce presentation and outlined his purpose of focusing on the Giro d’Italia subsequent yr.
The information follows virtually two weeks of criticism from all sides, with Bora-Hansgrohe insisting Uijtdebroeks can be on their workforce subsequent yr, and the Belgian claiming his contract had already been terminated on December 1.
Visma supervisor Richard Plugge got here below hearth from Cofidis supervisor Cedric Vasseur for failing to respect the contract and for his double function in managing his workforce and the AIGCP groups organisation.
It additionally follows ugly accusations that Uijtdebroeks had been bullied by his teammates on the Vuelta a España this yr.
Denk mentioned he hopes comparable conditions will not come up once more in professional biking.
“At present is a day of combined emotions. I used to be shocked to be approached on quick discover with the will to achieve an settlement,” Denk mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s well-known that I am open to talks and that I will not stand in the way in which of a switch if the situations are proper and if it is completed in keeping with the foundations. That was the case three weeks in the past, and it was the identical as we speak.
“I’m happy that the mud has lastly settled and that the case is now closed. The settlement exhibits that it is by no means too late for an affordable, private dialogue. I would love this case to stay an remoted incident for all the biking household: Let’s respect contracts and guidelines, let’s be truthful with one another.”
Denk clarified that Uijtdebroeks didn’t accuse his now-former teammates of bullying.
“Above all, I stand behind my workforce. When false accusations are made in opposition to our riders, a line is crossed. To be clear: these accusations didn’t come from Cian. They have been by no means voiced to us by Cian as a cause to vary groups,” Denk mentioned.