Tenth place for Uijtdebroeks in 119th edition of Il Lombardia

# Uijtdebroeks Clinches Tenth Place in the Prestigious Il Lombardia

In the storied 119th edition of Il Lombardia, Cian Uijtdebroeks from Team Visma | Lease a Bike showcased his grit, finishing in a commendable tenth place amidst the fierce competition characterized by challenging climbs and intense racing.

The race took off with Bart Lemmen participating in an early breakaway alongside thirteen other riders. However, the group struggled to establish a sizeable lead against the peloton, limiting Lemmen’s effectiveness as the race progressed into its more taxing segments.

As the cyclists approached the daunting Passo di Ganda, the pace surged. Despite efforts from Uijtdebroeks and teammate Ben Tulett, they were unable to keep pace with the frontrunners. Tadej Pogačar emerged as the dominant force, finishing solo in Bergamo, while Uijtdebroeks fought valiantly to secure his place within the top ten.

Reflecting on his performance, Uijtdebroeks stated, “It was a really tough day. I felt quite good. When Pogačar attacked, I was a bit too far back, so I rode my own tempo. Fortunately, I managed to rejoin the chasing group. The final kilometres were all about suffering, but I’m happy with tenth place in my first Monument. I can look back positively on today.”

Sports director Marc Reef also expressed his satisfaction with the team’s efforts. “It was a hard race from start to finish. We focused on the Passo di Ganda because we expected that’s where the race would explode, and that’s exactly what happened. Tiesj Benoot positioned Cian and Ben well before the climb, after which Cian crested it in a chasing group. As we didn’t have the top favourite within our ranks, we can be satisfied with tenth for Cian and fourteenth for Ben.”

The results highlighted the fierce competition, with Pogačar taking the top spot, followed by Remco Evenepoel and Michael Storer. Uijtdebroeks finished at 04:30 behind the leader, while Tulett crossed the line in fourteenth place.

This year’s Il Lombardia not only proved to be a test of endurance but also a momentous occasion for Uijtdebroeks, marking a promising start to his career in professional cycling.