Cian Uijtdebroeks to three different hospitals to have a face stitched: “We don’t know yet what exactly happened”

“I crashed into the ground at a roundabout when I wanted to return with the spare bike after a mechanical breakdown,” says Uijtdebroeks. “We don’t know exactly what happened yet. Because I had an open wound on my face and I had been standing there for a minute and a half with ten kilometers to go, it was pointless. I still lost my seventh place in the final standings. I especially remember that in the third stage with 4000 altimeters I was seventh and also eighth. Of course I was disappointed that I lost a nice place in the final standings, but on the other hand, the Coppi e Bartali is not the Tour de France.”

But then another journey began to get his injury taken care of. “My wound on the face had to be stitched up. It was a serious yawn. I ended up in two different hospitals where they didn’t. On to the third dan, in Montecatini Terme, where finally four stitches were placed where the jaw meets the underside of the chin. I was waiting in the hospital from 5.30 pm to 11 pm,” said the freshman at Bora-hansgrohe, who has gained an experience. “I drove the GP Industria on Sunday, but that was more to start with enough riders than anything else. I quickly disappeared off course, as planned with the team management.”

The first-year pro from Abolens is now riding the Tour of the Alps (from April 18), a stage race in which many riders are preparing for the Giro. “It may be that in the meantime I will ride a one-day race, but it is not yet clear whether I will take a race or go on an internship. There will be more information next week. What is certain is that I will ride in the Tour of the Alps in function of Wilco Kelderman. What a new experience,” said the 19-year-old climbing talent from the Hannut borough of Abolens.

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