Cian Uijtdebroeks abandons the Vuelta a España following tearful last-place finish on stage 4

Cian Uijtdebroeks is out of the Vuelta a España ahead of stage 5, his Movistar team announced on Wednesday morning.

The Belgian has suffered greatly since falling hard on stage 2 of the race, where he sustained a number of wounds and abrasions, along with trauma to his left ankle.

After finishing last on stage 4 and crossing the line in tears, the Belgian was announced as a non-starter for stage 5.

"Cian Uijtdebroeks will not take the start this Wednesday at the Vuelta a España," Movistar announced.

"After conducting new tests and examinations on the rider, it has been confirmed that the injury resulting from the crash during the 2nd stage is more extensive than initially estimated.

"The team has decided that Cian should withdraw from the race so he can begin his recovery as soon as possible."

An emotional battle with the time cut

Despite a severe limp off the bike and heavy bandaging, Uijtdebroeks had been on the start line the last two stages. The hail may have bought an early end to the misery of fighting through on stage 3, introducing an altogether different type of trial.

However, the toll of the prolonged battle on stage 4 was clear when the 23-year-old crossed the line last, in 182nd place, and more than 26 minutes behind race leader and stage winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

"I cannot feel the pain anymore," expressed a spent and teary Uijtdebroeks, who, judging by the look on his face, was not expressing an absence of it but instead the challenge of continuing to deal with its intensity.

Had circumstances been different, Cian Uijtdebroeks may have been looking to stage 4 at the Vuelta a España as one where he would be near the front, though instead of duelling with key rivals on the home roads of Andorra, or being on hand to support the efforts of team leader Enric Mas, the only battle the Movistar rider was involved in was the one to beat the time cut.

The Vuelta may be a place with plenty of good memories from his Grand Tour debut in 2023, when the young rider put himself on the map as an overall contender by coming eighth overall, but this edition is one to forget in what is becoming a season to forget.

"You have given everything to finish the stage, in a very difficult year for you, in which, when bad luck has not crossed your path, you have shown what you are capable of," said Movistar in a social media post where they expressed the team's pride in his fighting effort.

Uijtdebroeks' troubled first season with Movistar

The crash and withdrawal are far from the first misfortune to hit Uijtdebroeks this year, his first season with Movistar after breaking his contract with Visma-Lease a Bike to seek his own leadership opportunities at the Grand Tours.

Back in July, he headed to the Tour de France, his debut Grand Tour with his new team, but he was forced to leave the race in the first week after attempting to battle on while suffering a fever.

The decision to let him race on was widely criticised, with former racer Thomas De Gendt saying, "How on earth can the Movistar doctors allow Cian to continue riding with a fever? This isn't about being sick. This is about practising an intensive sport while having a fever. Many have developed heart problems this way."

Uijtdebroeks admitted his condition meant he was taken to hospital each day of the Tour to have undergo heart checks, adding: "The situation was constantly monitored. Of course, the outside world doesn't see any of that."

Uijtdebroeks' first summer with Movistar, which had started promisingly with seventh place at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, has since lurched from disaster to disaster.

Thankfully, the prospect of watching the 23-year-old suffer on in Spain is no more, and so he becomes the third rider to leave the race following the earlier abandons of Sergio Chumil and Alex Kirsch.

Fortunately for Uijtdebroeks' Movistar team, they have Mas on hand to continue their GC challenge. He lies third overall after stage 4. The day may have been a tough one for Uijtdebroeks, but it was a successful one for his teammate, with Mas taking sixth on the day and moving up to third overall.

For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You'll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a España, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today.