After Lukas Kubiš, Unibet Rose Rockets head into spring 2026 with another top-10 machine

At the end of October, a striking statistic did the rounds on the X account StatsOnCycling. It analysed which riders were responsible for the biggest share of their team’s UCI points. Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar came out at 23.7% and 23.3% respectively, while Kubiš underlined his value to the Rockets with 31.9%.

In third and second place were Arnaud De Lie and Tom Pidcock, accounting for 32.2% and 35.5% of the points for Lotto and Q36.5. But nobody came close to Kopecký, who earned an eye-watering 93.4% (!) of the points for ProTeam Novo Nordisk.

He did that by racking up no fewer than 24 top-ten finishes across the entire year — from France to Japan and from Belgium to the United States. He also showed himself in races like the Tour of Denmark, Le Samyn and the Tour de l’Avenir. Now, at his new team, he hopes to keep building — alongside brother Tomáš.

How is it at the Rockets, coming from Novo Nordisk?
“It’s a different dynamic and a different group in terms of nationalities. There are lots of new things, but it’s all positive. I feel really good with the team and I’m enjoying it a lot. For me, it was a logical step at my age and with my ambitions.”

How much did it matter that your brother has been with the team for a few years already?
“I already knew a lot about the team because of that, and I’d been in contact with them for a long time. That started two and a half or three years ago. Through my brother I got quite a lot of insight into what the team was working on, so in that way I already had one foot in. It played a role, but it’s not like I wouldn’t have signed otherwise.”

Do you know that UCI-points statistic — and how awkward is it for Novo Nordisk that you’ve left?
“You can see from that statistic that I was the one who stood out, so for the team — staff and riders — it will be annoying. But as a sponsor, Novo Nordisk is less focused on that. They focus more on the team’s story.”

Talking about that story: the team only has riders with type 1 diabetes. What is it like racing with that set-up?
“At Novo Nordisk we always had a team doctor with us. At every training camp, at every race. So you always had that ‘safe’ feeling, also because the entire staff knew how to deal with it. With this team that’s naturally a bit less, but everyone is very open about it.

“I’ve spoken about it with the sports directors and I feel really supported. But I’m also very independent with it — I try to arrange as much as possible myself. It’s in your head 24/7, that’s just how it is. But for me it has become so automated that it doesn’t cost energy anymore. Over the years I’ve learned how to race with it.

“With the amount of carbohydrates we eat these days, it can happen that my glucose goes high. Then I can administer insulin on the bike — and in cycling that might look strange, but I don’t really care about that.”

What are your ambitions at Unibet Rose Rockets?
“I’m ambitious and I want to win races. If you look at what I could do at my previous team, with relatively little support in the finals, then I hope I can do even more here and really make my mark. With the riders we have, I’ll more often be part of a team racing for the win. I’m really looking forward to that.”

How would you describe yourself as a rider?
“A classic type with punch. I can usually hold my position well at key moments in the peloton, and I’ve done a lot of sprints too. After a hard race I’ve got a decent kick, but I’m not a sprinter — my numbers tell me that as well.

“The Flemish work attracts me the most, but races like Brabantse Pijl and maybe the Amstel Gold Race should suit me too. But I’m only 22, and I hope I can still take a step up over the next four or five years. Right now I feel most at home in the chaos of the Classics and in hilly races.”

Do you see Kubiš as a bit of a reference point, since he also came in with so many placings?
“Lukas has really accelerated quickly. That definitely crossed my mind, because he’s a similar type. But I also see how Lukas races, and then I’ll already be happy if I can help him to strong results in WorldTour Classics.”

What do you notice already about the step up in support around you?
“At Novo Nordisk I did a lot myself, from the motivation I have to get as far as possible in this sport. I mean dietitians, bike fitting, that kind of thing — marginal gains. At the Rockets, I notice that a lot of those things are supported as standard. In terms of professionalism, it’s simply a step up.”

And the energy you save there, you can use on the bike.
“I do feel like I’ve been riding harder this winter already — in all the testing numbers. That’s really motivating, especially because it’s the only thing you can hold on to during a winter like this. I was nervous about changing coach, but so far I’m very happy with that at my new team too.”