The Unibet Rose Rockets have received a wildcard invitation for the upcoming edition of the Giro d’Italia. It will be the team’s first ever Grand Tour appearance, a defining milestone marking a new chapter in a project that started with a camera, a dream and a deep love for the sport.
The invitation represents a major step in the rapid development of the Rockets project. In just a few years, the Unibet Rose Rockets have grown from a content-driven initiative into a competitive French-licensed professional team, with one of the most engaged audiences in international cycling.

A place at the start of one of cycling’s three Grand Tours confirms the sporting progress of the team and the trust race organizers place in the project. It also brings its distinctive media approach to one of the most iconic races in the world. With strong ambitions both on and off the bike, the Rockets aim to contribute to the race with aggressive racing and high-quality content that connects new audiences to the sport. 

Team owner Bas Tietema: “We are very grateful for the opportunity to ride our first Grand Tour. The Giro d’Italia is one of the most iconic races in cycling, and to be there with the Unibet Rose Rockets is a milestone for our entire project. This wildcard is a recognition of the work of our riders, staff and partners, and it gives us the chance to present ourselves to an even larger international audience on the highest stage of the sport.”

“We are not going to the Giro d’Italia just to participate: we are going there to compete. Our clear objective is to win a stage, and naturally the first stage stands out. It’s a unique sprint opportunity where you potentially can take the pink jersey. That prospect motivates the entire team enormously. From day one, we want to be visible, ride offensive and we will be fully committed to making an impact.”

For Tietema, alongside Devin van der Wiel and Josse Wester, the wildcard carries deep personal meaning. In 2020, the trio organized and rode their own alternative Giro, the Giro di Tietema, cycling from the planned Grande Partenza to Amsterdam. What started as a tribute to the sport has now come full circle, with the Rockets lining up at the official start of the Giro d’Italia.

This milestone also represents an important step forward for the team’s partners, who share the long-term vision of building a modern, audience-driven cycling platform at the highest level of the sport. Further details on the team selection and race program will be communicated in the coming weeks.

Updates will be shared across the Unibet Rose Rockets’ social media channels. A dedicated YouTube video has already been published, providing further context around the wildcard and outlining our sporting ambitions and media plans for the Giro d’Italia.