Movistar’s Tour de France GC hopes have all but evaporated on the first mountain stage of the race as their leader Cian Uijtdebroeks abandoned the race on stage 6.

The Belgian joined the Spanish team this year from Visma-Lease a Bike and lined up in Barcelona as team leader with Einer Rubio, Raúl García Pierna, and Pablo Castrillo among the riders supporting him.

The Tour didn’t start well for Uijtdebroeks, however, as he was dropped on the penultimate climb of the opening team time trial. He’d shed further time on subsequent stages, leaving him in 23rd place, 11:17 off the yellow jersey.

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Earlier in the race, Movistar confirmed that Uijtdebroeks had been suffering with stomach issues and a fever. Now, it looks like those illnesses have forced him out of the Grand Tour.

He was dropped far from the finish of stage 6, losing contact 77km from the line on the first climb of the day, the Col d’Aspin. Just over 50km later, as the leaders crested the Col du Tourmalet, his withdrawal was confirmed.

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.

Movistar’s Tour de France GC hopes have all but evaporated on the first mountain stage of the race as their leader Cian Uijtdebroeks abandoned the race on stage 6.

The Belgian joined the Spanish team this year from Visma-Lease a Bike and lined up in Barcelona as team leader with Einer Rubio, Raúl García Pierna, and Pablo Castrillo among the riders supporting him.

The Tour didn’t start well for Uijtdebroeks, however, as he was dropped on the penultimate climb of the opening team time trial. He’d shed further time on subsequent stages, leaving him in 23rd place, 11:17 off the yellow jersey.

Latest Videos From

Watch full video here:

Earlier in the race, Movistar confirmed that Uijtdebroeks had been suffering with stomach issues and a fever. Now, it looks like those illnesses have forced him out of the Grand Tour.

He was dropped far from the finish of stage 6, losing contact 77km from the line on the first climb of the day, the Col d’Aspin. Just over 50km later, as the leaders crested the Col du Tourmalet, his withdrawal was confirmed.

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.