Cian Uijtdebroeks, regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Belgian cycling, has spoken about the use of painkillers during the finales of pro races, saying it is not something he would ever consider.
The 19-year-old, who is in his first season with Bora-hansgrohe, said he felt no need to take 250mg to 300mg of paracetamol - five or six tablets - to get ready for the finale of a race. He was speaking to Het Nieuwsblad.
"Everyone does what they want with that, but I don't intend to undermine my long-term health for short-term performance," he said of painkiller use, which is not banned, for the finales of races.
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“If I am beaten by a rider who has taken three grams of paracetamol in the final, I will be frustrated. While it's perfectly legal, I'm not going to do it. Even if I lose a race because of this and if someone advises me to try it anyway, I will stick to my own plan. Why would you take 2.5 grams of paracatemol in the final? You do that when you are sick, and then not in that amount."
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Uijtdebroeks was a junior rider last year and has skipped the U23 ranks to go straight to the World Tour with German team Bora-hansgrohe. He has ridden very solidly so far, taking 8th overall at the recent Tour of Norway; his best result to date.
He began his time in the pro ranks with a couple of one-day races in Spain before riding Saudi Tour. Het Nieuwsblad suggests Uijtdebroeks first learned of, or encountered, painkiller use at Saudi Tour. However, it is does explain the circumstances and does not quote him directly on the issue of where and how he first learned of the practice.
There has been concern in pro cycling for some time about the use of so-called 'finish bottles'. These contain painkillers and are said to be consumed by riders as they prepare for the finals of races. While much of the debate has revolved around Tramadol, a powerful painkiller, the use of other legal painkillers have also come under focus.
