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Follow us on GoogleSprint fans are gearing up for stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia with the fastest sprinter in Burgas set to the take the first pink jersey of the 3-week tour. A lot has been said about Jonathan Milan vs Dylan Groenewegen, with Paul Magnier nipping at their heels. But are we overlooking Casper van Uden too quickly? The Dutch sprinter, still only 24 years old, won the opening stage of the 2025 Giro d'Italia, why can't he do it again? IDL Pro Cycling caught up with him in Bulgaria.
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Van Uden is part of the so-called Orange Train of Picnic PostNL Raisin. Picnic PostNL Raisin? Yes — that's the name the team will race under for this year's Giro. Co-sponsor Raisin, a fintech company, is launching in the Italian market and sees the Giro as the perfect opportunity to raise its profile.
What better way to do that than a potential win on day one — and the pink jersey that comes with it? "Our main goal is to be involved in as many sprints as possible, and taking the pink would be a dream — but the sprint field is strong," says Van Uden, who will be the finisher in a train built around Tim Naberman, Timo de Jong and Sean Flynn.
"Last week in Turkey, we sprinted together as a full train for the first time," explains Naberman. "We had quite a few meetings with Roy Curvers where we talked everything through properly. In the end, it was just a really good test — we won a stage and got things working well."
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Picnic PostNL Raisin for the Giro d'Italia.
Van Uden had to rediscover his comfort in the sprint chaos
Beyond that stage win, results didn't always go to plan for Van Uden in Turkey — but that's just the scoreboard talking. "We learned a huge amount in Turkey. It was the first time we rode as a unit of four, and we still came away with the confidence that we can do it. That's the best feeling, when it actually comes together."
"The main thing for me there was working really hard to get comfortable again in the sprints and throwing myself into the mix, as they say," Van Uden reflects. "I've crashed a lot this year and that does make you more cautious. In those kinds of races it's also a bit different, because there's less of a defined line in a sprint."
"Casper is naturally very perfectionistic," Naberman agrees. "When things are going well, he can genuinely deliver. When it gets more chaotic, it's maybe a bit harder for him. He also had a few nasty crashes early in the season, which definitely played a part. Maybe you brake just a little bit too early in those moments."
"The dream would be winning one, but getting involved in every sprint and showing ourselves is already really important. Whether a win comes out of that — it doesn't matter all that much. Getting Casper into that sprint is our priority, and then it's up to him to ride it — because we know he has that raw speed."
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Van Uden uses rap music to fire himself up in the finale
Van Uden himself needs to be switched on in those final kilometres too, as sprinters say. "Everyone's a bit mad out there," he smiles, describing the hectic closing kilometres in a stage built for pure sprinters. "We won the first sprint last year and now we're going all out again."
"You do need to pump yourself up a bit for a sprint — get a bit ruthless. How do I do it? Just humming some gangster rap to myself, puffing out my chest, getting my elbows ready," he explains. For that purpose, Van Uden has a particular artist he tends to gravitate towards.
"Right now it's Eli Fross — a bit of niche stuff. I'll have that going around in my head for the last fifty kilometres," says the sprinter, who on Friday wants to apply his usual blend of instinct and race-craft in Burgas. "That combination works best, but that's the same for any sprinter. Nobody's going to tell us it can't be done," the motivated Dutchman concludes.
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Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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Latest Comments
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