A historic chapter: the Rockets complete their first Giro d’Italia
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The Unibet Rose Rockets have completed a historic chapter in their journey: their first ever Grand Tour appearance at the Giro d’Italia.
Before the race started, the team launched Mission Giro: an ambitious goal to win a stage at their first ever Grand Tour. It was a huge challenge, with the world’s best riders and teams lining up in Italy, but it perfectly matched the mentality of the Rockets. The team travelled to the Giro not only to gain experience, but to compete and create opportunities.
Throughout the three weeks, the Rockets showed their identity. The team was active in different types of stages, looked for opportunities and made sure the pink colours were visible in the race. From sprint stages to mountain days and the individual time trial, every rider played a role in making the Giro debut a memorable one.
First Grand Tour podium and strong sprint performances
One of the biggest moments came in the sprint stages, where Dylan Groenewegen secured the first ever Grand Tour podium finish in Unibet Rose Rockets history. His third place was a milestone for the team and showed that the Rockets could compete against the fastest riders in the world.
The sprint train also made a strong impression throughout the Giro. With well-timed lead-outs and strong teamwork, the Rockets repeatedly managed to bring their train into position for the final kilometres. Against established WorldTour sprint squads, the team showed that it belonged on the biggest stage.
The podium was part of a wider run of strong results. During the Giro, the Rockets collected eight top-10 stage finishes with several different riders. Wout Poels delivered strong performances in the mountains, while Niklas Larsen showed his quality in the individual time trial, also Lukas Kubis could take a top-10 spot after a strong performance in stage 18. The results proved the depth of the squad and the ability to compete across different types of stages.
Valuable experience and important progress
The Giro also contributed to the team’s wider ambitions, with Unibet Rose Rockets collecting 450 UCI points during the three-week race. For a team making its first Grand Tour appearance, it was a valuable step forward.
The race was also a special moment for two riders who have been part of the project from the beginning. Hartthijs de Vries and Tomáš Kopecký, who joined the team in 2023, lined up at the start of the Giro after being part of the Rockets journey from the early days.
Their presence represented the growth of the team: from building a new project in 2023 to competing in one of cycling’s biggest races only a few years later.
The journey continues
Although the stage victory from Mission Giro remained just out of reach, the Rockets leave Italy with a lot of confidence. A first Grand Tour, a first podium, eight top-10 finishes and a team that proved it can compete at the highest level.
The Giro was another important step in the Rockets journey, and the next chapter is already waiting.
