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Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe group supervisor Ralph Denk has claimed there are marked variations between the mid-contract transfers of Cian Uijtdebroeks and Maxim Van Gils, with the lack of Uijtdebroeks to Visma-Lease a Bike coming after a bitter divorce, whereas Lotto agreed a deal to let Van Gils go.
Uijtdebroeks departed Denk’s group in December of 2023 after a messy switch saga. On the time, there have been stories of bullying, which each events then denounced, alongside public criticisms from the Belgian of his time trial setup and the group’s techniques on the Vuelta.
In distinction, Denk claimed that Van Gils’ resolution to depart Lotto Dstny for Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, regardless of signing a two-year contract extension in March, was all the way down to him merely wanting a change of group. A deal was reached, apparently with Lotto being paid a payment.
“Cian was creating unfaithful tales towards us. Maxim had simply wished to alter groups,” Denk informed Cyclingnews at Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s coaching camp in Mallorca, simplifying the 2 rider transfers.
“With Van Gils it was a dialog between Lotto Dsnty, us, and the rider. We signed a three-party settlement and I feel this instance exhibits how a rider switch ought to work.”
Uijtdebroeks himself stated again in 2023 that he didn’t need his departure “to show it right into a cleaning soap opera” when requested why he left by HLN.
“I actually didn’t really feel effectively. That’s the reason my contract with Bora has been terminated. I needed to go away to be glad once more,” he stated.
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“Plenty of issues occurred, however I don’t wish to go into element about them. That’s the very best for everybody, respect for everybody. We had a legitimate motive to terminate my contract and that’s what we in the end did.”
Each Uijtdebroeks and Van Gils work with Italian agent Alex Carera and his highly effective A&J All Sports activities company.
A&J All Sports activities claimed that Uijtdebroeks terminated his contract with the German group on December 1 2023. Then veiled accusations of bullying and mistreatment at Bora-Hansgrohe emerged through the media. Carera and Uijtdebroeks have all the time denied the accusations or any “unfaithful tales” got here from Uijtdebroeks, and Carera once more denied the accusations when contacted by Cyclingnews after Denk’s newest feedback.
Denk denied them too however ultimately agreed on a deal to let Uijtdebroeks go away. The switch turned official after Uijtdebroeks had already skilled with Visma-Lease a Bike at a December coaching camp.
Denk introduced Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s goals for 2025 on the group’s media day after which confronted questions on his switch technique and ethics. How did signing Van Gils align along with his feedback in Could about not attempting to signal Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert or Remco Evenepoel as a result of they “have long-term contracts”? Denk additionally admitted that he had talked to Evenepoel as lately as late September a few transfer from Sousal-QuickStep to Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
Denk held agency that the Uijtdebroeks and Van Gils transfers have been very completely different.
“The start line was the want from Maxim Van Gils to affix our undertaking or change group. We weren’t proactively coming into right into a scenario the place the rider and our group had a binding settlement,” stated Denk.
“We heard in autumn that Maxim had the want to change groups. To alter groups you all the time want an settlement with the previous group, the brand new group and the rider. We discovered an settlement in a great way along with his former group Lotto and so then the switch occurred.”
Groups attempt to, and sometimes succeed, in signing riders who’re below contract, with the tactic used extra incessantly in current seasons, as some groups dominate as a consequence of larger budgets and others undergo. Brokers use the freedoms of European employment regulation as a lever regardless of makes an attempt by the UCI to restrict brokers’ actions and so shield groups and sponsors.
Uijtdebroeks, Van Gils, Roglič, Andreas Kron and Wout van Aert are among the many highest-profile circumstances lately.
Evenepoel has been linked to a transfer to Denl’s Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe since 2021, regardless of his contract with QuickStep working till 2026.
His now former boss, Patrick Lefevere has been outspoken in his criticism of Denk’s switch techniques, admitting in November that “I don’t like him” after claims of the German providing Evenepoel a “contract with large bonuses” regardless of his current deal.
Evenepoel confirmed on the World Championships in Zurich that he would keep at Soudal-QuickStep however Denk confirmed he talked to the Belgian.
“I feel Remco introduced very clearly in the course of the Worlds what his plan was,” Denk stated on the finish of the press convention on Saturday.
“All of the tales earlier than that, in my view, have been too many rumours.
“His character is nice and it will be a terrific match,” Denk later admitted to TM, “However he made it very clear the place he sees his future.”
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