Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe crew 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 crew in December of 2023 after a messy switch saga. On the time, there have been reviews of bullying, which each events then denounced, alongside public criticisms from the Belgian of his time trial setup and the crew’s ways on the Vuelta.
In distinction, Denk claimed that Van Gils’ resolution to depart Lotto Dstny for Purple 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 crew. A deal was reached, apparently with Lotto being paid a price.
“Cian was creating unfaithful tales towards us. Maxim had simply wished to vary groups,” Denk instructed Cyclingnews at Purple 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 mentioned again in 2023 that he did not need his departure “to show it right into a cleaning soap opera” when requested why he left by HLN.
“I actually did not really feel properly. That’s the reason my contract with Bora has been terminated. I needed to go away to be comfortable once more,” he mentioned.
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“Numerous issues occurred, however I do not wish to go into element about them. That is the very best for everybody, respect for everybody. We had a legitimate cause to terminate my contract and that’s what we finally 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 crew on December 1 2023. Then veiled accusations of bullying and mistreatment at Bora-Hansgrohe emerged by way of 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 educated with Visma-Lease a Bike at a December coaching camp.
Denk introduced Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s goals for 2025 on the crew’s media day after which confronted questions on his switch technique and ethics. How did signing Van Gils align together with his feedback in Could about not making an attempt 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 not too long ago as late September a few transfer from Sousal-QuickStep to Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
Denk held agency that the Uijtdebroeks and Van Gils transfers had been very completely different.
“The start line was the want from Maxim Van Gils to hitch our mission or change crew. We weren’t proactively coming into right into a scenario the place the rider and our crew had a binding settlement,” mentioned Denk.
“We heard in autumn that Maxim had the want to change groups. To vary groups you all the time want an settlement with the outdated crew, the brand new crew and the rider. We discovered an settlement in a great way together with his former crew Lotto and so then the switch occurred.”
Groups attempt to, and infrequently succeed, in signing riders who’re below contract, with the tactic used extra often in current seasons, as some groups dominate as a result of larger budgets and others endure. Brokers use the freedoms of European employment legislation as a lever regardless of makes an attempt by the UCI to restrict brokers’ actions and so defend 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 Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe since 2021, regardless of his contract with QuickStep operating till 2026.
His now former boss, Patrick Lefevere has been outspoken in his criticism of Denk’s switch ways, admitting in November that “I do not like him” after claims of the German providing Evenepoel a “contract with massive bonuses” regardless of his present 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 through the Worlds what his plan was,” Denk mentioned on the finish of the press convention on Saturday.
“All of the tales earlier than that, for my part, had been too many rumours.
“His persona is nice and it might be a fantastic match,” Denk later admitted to TM, “However he made it very clear the place he sees his future.”
