Unibet Rose Rockets almost certainly secure Giro d’Italia wildcard
Sadness can quickly give way to joy at Unibet Rose Rockets. After it was announced Friday morning that the ASO would not grant a wildcard to the French ProTeam of Dutch origin for the Tour de France, multiple sources have now confirmed to WielerFlits that the Giro d’Italia will indeed offer a spot to the team of Bas Tietema, Josse Wester, and Devin van der Wiel.
According to insiders, Giro organizer RCS Sport has already informed Unibet Rose Rockets that they can count on a start in the Italian Grand Tour. In the upcoming Giro d'Italia, the team will have several excellent opportunities to further showcase themselves. Currently, the team primarily focuses on classics and sprints. Dylan Groenewegen is the team's main finisher. Italy awaits seven flat stages that will very likely end in bunch sprints. This also applies to the opening stage in Bulgaria, creating a chance to claim the first pink jersey.
Especially for Groenewegen and Poels
For Groenewegen, this would mean a return to a memorable first and only participation in the Giro. In 2021, he made his comeback there following a suspension caused by the horrific crash he was involved in during the 2020 Tour of Poland. He didn’t win any stages then, which will surely serve as extra motivation now. However, he will have to contend with Jonathan Milan, currently the best sprinter in the world, who last year won two stages and the green jersey at the Tour de France.
Wout Poels, meanwhile, is aiming to complete his trilogy of stage wins across the three Grand Tours. The experienced rider from Limburg won a stage in both the Tour and the Vuelta a España in 2023. Since then, he has set a goal to also secure a stage win in the Giro. Bahrain Victorious denied him this opportunity in 2024, after which Poels moved to XDS Astana to try again. That didn’t succeed, but now he unexpectedly likely gets a new chance at it.
Rapid development
A start in a Grand Tour would be a first for the team of Tietema and his company. Founded as a Continental team in 2023, they immediately stepped up to ProTeam status a year later. Ambitions are plentiful. In 2024, they debuted in the Amstel Gold Race, last year they received a wildcard for Paris-Roubaix, and now they make their first appearance in the Tour of Flanders. The Giro d'Italia 2026 likely follows next.
