Cian Uijtdebroeks is the leader in the youth classification, but puts things into perspective after a solid performance in the Giro time trial: “Losing the white jersey is certainly not a disaster”

“It is certainly not a disaster that I lose the white jersey,” Uijtdebroeks said after arriving in Perugia. “I know time trial is not one of my strong points, but I am happy. The goal was not to fall behind too much today, and we succeeded. That’s positive. Especially at this distance, an hour of time trial, this is progress compared to last season.”

“I gave everything I could. It was definitely one of the toughest time trials I have ever done. Due to the climbing, it was constantly going downhill. So it was difficult to find a good pace. You couldn’t lose too much time in the first part, but you still had to be fresh for the last part of the time trial. Still, I think I paced it pretty well, and uphill I gave it everything I could.”

Our compatriot sees O’Connor, Lutsenko and Plapp – the new white jersey wearer – jumping all over him in the standings, but remains positive with a view to the further course of the Giro. “Plapp is strong, but he is not the man for the rankings. When we enter the high mountains, there are other riders that I will have to take into account. Everyone who rides for the classification has gone deep. That is only good for tomorrow,” emphasized Uijtdebroeks, who is now seventh at 3’50” behind leader Tadej Pogacar. The gap to Plapp is only six seconds. “It’s good to have some rest now and back in yellow (the jerseys from Visma-Lease a Bike, ed.) to be able to drive. On to the mountain stages!”, our compatriot concluded belligerently.