Unibet Rose Rockets will ride the Giro d'Italia 2026

Big news for Unibet Rose Rockets. Bas Tietema's team has officially received a wildcard for the 2026 Giro d'Italia. After missing out on an invitation to the Tour de France, the ProTeam will finally make its debut in a Grand Tour this year. With riders like Dylan Groenewegen and Wout Poels, Unibet Rose Rockets hopes to play a significant role.

In January, there was still hope within the French squad for a wildcard to the Tour de France. The team was founded in 2023 as a Dutch continental outfit under the name TDT-Unibet. However, the Tour organizers awarded the final wildcard to Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rather than to Tietema and his team. Shortly after, Wielerflits reported that the Giro d'Italia planned to invite Unibet Rose Rockets for this year.

In the upcoming Giro, the team will have several excellent opportunities to further establish themselves. This season, the squad is mainly focusing on the classics and sprints. Dylan Groenewegen is the team’s primary finisher. The Giro features seven flat stages that will most likely end in bunch sprints. That includes the opening stage in Bulgaria, which even presents a chance to wear the first pink jersey. Wout Poels is aiming for a stage win on a mountain stage.

Earlier this year, Unibet Rose Rockets also received wildcards from organizer RCS for Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo, but not for Tirreno-Adriatico. The team is also welcome in all the major Flemish classics, including, for the first time, the Tour of Flanders. They will also be present for the second year in a row at Paris-Roubaix.

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