Rose Rockets dreaming of Giro stage win with Dylan Groenewegen: "We believe it’s possible"
Something very unusual must happen for the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia 2026 not to end in a bunch sprint. Over 140 kilometers, there is only a fourth-category climb after forty kilometers; the rest of the route to Naples is almost flat. So Bas Tietema is on the edge of his seat again, as this offers opportunities for Dylan Groenewegen to achieve a unique stage win. At WielerFlits, the team owner already looks ahead.
In the first stage, Groenewegen was prevented from sprinting due to a crash in the final kilometer, but in the third stage, he was very close to victory. “I think Dylan himself best senses the dynamics between him, Jonathan Milan, and Paul Magnier. My observation as a fan is that he competes very well in the sprints. The speed is there. Also, looking at how Sunday’s finale went, it just worked well. With Milan and Magnier, you also have two of the world’s best sprinters. But it feels like Dylan has it in him. It’s truly a close call.”
Small details
Compared to Sunday, Tietema sees only improvements in small details. That is why he believes the stage win is within reach. The Lion of Amsterdam is among the best sprinters in this Giro, he thinks. “We have confidence in other chances coming up this race. Based on what I saw on Sunday, I think that victory is coming. Not just the speed, but also the team is there to make it happen. On Sunday, Dylan said he held back a bit when Milan launched an attack, losing momentum. Those are the small details.”
A tough finale awaits in Naples on Friday. Positioning will be key. At 650 meters from the finish, there is a ninety-degree corner, followed by a hairpin turn 400 meters from the line. After that, the route climbs at four percent over cobblestones. “You need to be first in the crucial moments as a team. For some guys, this Giro is new and their first time. But what I see is very promising. The first stage did not go perfectly, but on Sunday, maybe until the last corner, they had the best setup of all.”
A healthy dose of ambition
“That’s what we take from it,” Tietema continues. “If we can manage this already in the second big sprint chance of the Giro, with many guys stepping up from Continental level… Then I think we have done really well. Personally, it would be very unique for me if we can win a stage in this Giro. But if we don’t, that’s not strange either. My feeling is that we are very close. That’s what we hope for. Is it a big disappointment if we don’t make it? Of course, very briefly. But when you look at the bigger picture, no.”
Tietema is proud of how Rose Rockets is establishing itself in their first grand tour. Especially regarding the dream of earning a wildcard for the Tour de France in the coming years. “I think the way we present ourselves is very strong and impressive. I believe it is a healthy dose of ambition to state that stage win out loud. Especially when you see where we come from, but also what we showed on Sunday, for example. We demonstrate that as a sprint team we can match the WorldTeams. Dylan has the speed of the best sprinters in this Giro. And maybe intrinsically, he is the fastest of them all. We definitely believe that stage win is achievable!”
And if it doesn’t happen in Naples, then almost guaranteed sprint opportunities await in Milan (stage 15) and Rome (stage 21). A third week in a grand tour is uncharted territory for most of the team. Until then, the staff has a big role in physically preparing the inexperienced riders as best as possible for that moment.
