Days after being injured in an attempted burglary, young star Cian Uijtdebroeks suffered through Worlds junior time trial
The Belgian tore a muscle as he ran to trigger a burglar alarm after spotting an intruder on his roof

There's nothing the Belgians quite enjoy as much as heaping pressure on their young riders.
Remco Evenepoel was the latest to be given the 'new Merckx' tag line, and 18-year-old Cian Uijtdebroeks is maybe the first recipient of the moniker 'the new Remco'.
He's already won a number of junior stage races, the junior edition of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and finished second in the recent European Championships junior time trial.
Things were therefore set up for him to potentially delight a home crowd in Bruges at the Worlds junior time trial, but days before the event Uijtdebroeks was injured during an attempted burglary at his home.
It was night-time, the warm late summer weather making it stuffy in his room so he opened the window. As he was going to sleep, he heard a noise.
"I opened my window to look and there was a burglar on the roof," Uijtdebroeks told Belgian TV channel RTBF. "Obviously I closed the window and I didn't tell the gentleman to come in, so I started running to go and set the [burglar] alarm but I made a bad move.
"The next day I went to train and I felt that it was wrong and that I was in pain. I went to see the doctor and we saw that there was a small muscle tear. I had to rest for a few days."
Fortunately, Uijtdebroeks was still able to make the start line, only two hours from his home, but not in top condition.
As well as the physical ailments, Uijtdebroeks mentally suffered during his effort, telling the media afterwards he was worried about putting too much power through his injured leg in case he exacerbated the tear.
"Yeah for sure [it affected me] a little bit because the preparation wasn't perfect so it had a little impact," Uijtdebroeks added after finishing sixth, 41 seconds behind Danish winner Gustav Wang. "And also you're thinking about it, but in the end also the parcours wasn't perfect for me, I gave everything I had and it just wasn't enough to win."
Maybe of all the riders to have come through the mixed zone so far this World Championships, Uijtdebroeks was the most in demand. It's not surprising, really, the next Remco tied in with a home invasion?! You don't get a much better story than that in cycling.
"I don't think too much about it but for sure it puts some pressure on a rider because they think you can win everywhere," Uijtdebroeks said of the pressure that's already being exerted on him during his teenage years.
"They think you are Remco, can win a World Championships and everything, but if you look at the parcours [at the 2018 Worlds in Innsbruck] it was climbing, if you put a TT on a big climb then it's different, so in the end you can't see those two things together. For me, I want to become the best rider I can be and I don't look too much to other riders."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Who's leading the Giro d'Italia 2023 after stage 17?
Geraint Thomas is still in the race lead
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
'This is insane': Alberto Dainese comes back from illness to triumph in photo finish on Giro d'Italia stage 17 sprint
DSM rider finished last on Sunday's stage with a stomach bug, but bounced back to take win in his home region
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Annemiek van Vleuten to target Vuelta-Tour-Giro treble again next season
The Dutchwoman plans to retire at the end of 2023
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
11 of the best photos from the 2022 Road World Championships
There were tears, hugs and kisses in Wollongong, Australia
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Remco Evenepoel goes long to win the men's World Championships road race solo after stinging attack
The young Belgian was clearly the strongest on the day, but others need to ask themselves how and why they let him go
By Jack Elton-Walters • Last updated
-
Annemiek van Vleuten soars to victory in World Championships road race despite broken elbow
The Dutch rider took the second road world title of her career with late attack
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Zoe Bäckstedt retains junior road race title with stunning solo ride at World Championships
The Welsh rider celebrated her 18th birthday with a 58km solo attack and another rainbow jersey
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Julian Alaphilippe says he is 'not the sole leader' for France in the World Championships road race
The Frenchman played down his form in an interview with L'Équipe
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Tobias Foss shocks the favourites to win World Championships time trial
The Norwegian claimed the biggest win of his career, while Filippo Ganna finished in seventh
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Ellen van Dijk claims third time trial title at World Championships
The Dutchwoman won by almost 13 seconds ahead of Grace Brown
By Tom Davidson • Last updated