How Unibet Rose Rockets riders experience their Amstel Gold Race corner: “Goosebumps on your arms!”

The Amstel Gold Race was the first WorldTour race for Bas Tietema’s team in 2024, and Johannink — who, alongside cycling, also runs a farm with his uncle — was the first finisher from his squad that day. He crossed the line in 55th place.

Last year, the rider from Denekamp was again prominent in the early breakaway at the Netherlands’ biggest race, together with Hartthijs de Vries. That meant he was able to hit the “Rockets corner” on the Geulhemmerberg — where around a thousand fans cheer on the riders — in a great position. “That really does give you goosebumps on your arms,” he says, looking back. “How much do you notice? When you’re riding on the Cauberg, you know: that corner is coming up soon.”

“That was an amazing feeling,” says Johannink, who has been in good form in recent weeks. He finished on the podium in two Greek races and was still active in the finale of Brabantse Pijl on Friday. “Now I hope I can still be there later in the finale when we pass that corner. These are the races that suit my type of rider best, but you also have to be realistic and say that the level is incredibly high.”

The Amstel Gold Race remains a special race for the French-licensed team with Dutch roots. “We don’t ride many races in the Netherlands, but the Amstel Gold Race, the biggest race in the Netherlands, is obviously fantastic. A lot of friends and family come to that race, and it is simply very special to experience.”

“There is always a lot of support in Belgium too, but as a Dutch rider you still feel more of a connection with the Amstel. It is just that little bit more special,” says Johannink, who also got to experience the atmosphere at Strade Bianche and Milan–San Remo in Italy this year. “The support there was genuinely amazing as well. It was incredibly busy on those sectors, and that shows you how much the race means to people. Those are beautiful things to experience.”

He also noticed in Southern Europe that fans know the Rockets. “You often hear your own name, so you can tell from that that the Unibet Rose Rockets are simply big. How does it sound? More ‘yalla, yalla’ than ‘Jelle, Jelle’, haha!”