Primož Roglič to Unibet Rose Rockets? "Never say never" says team owner

The cycling transfer market is bustling, but just like last season, things are remarkably quiet around the Unibet Rose Rockets. Bas Tietema’s team already has quite a few riders under contract for 2027 and is deliberately choosing to wait longer so it can make a move at a later date, he told VeloFuté. Could such a move involve a soon to out of contract Slovenian?

Tietema and his teammates were allowed to start in this season’s Giro d’Italia, but unfortunately for them, they did not receive an invitation to the Tour de France. However, the goal for the remainder of this season is clear: to finish in the top 3 of the Pro-Continental teams in the UCI rankings, so that next year, their Tour participation will be in their own hands.

"Right now, we have to let big teams like Tudor, Cofidis, and Pinarello-Q36.5 pass us. A spot in the top 3 is our goal, but a fourth-place finish doesn’t mean our season has been a failure. We’re 1,000 points behind Cofidis, and we’ve already doubled our points total compared to last year. I think it’s very difficult because the competition is so fierce,” said team owner Bas Tietema

"What's more, there really aren't any major differences anymore between top teams like Tudor or Q36.5 and some World Tour teams. So it's a compliment that we're still competing with those teams at this point in the season," Tietema told VeloFuté.

The Rockets have already doubled their 2025 points total in September, thanks in part to an outstanding Dylan Groenewegen. “I can clearly see that the perception of our team has changed; agents and some riders are approaching us because they’ve seen us compete in Grand Tours or World Tour races. It will certainly be a different situation for us than in previous years,” said Tietema.

There were even rumors here and there that Primož Roglič— who has been linked to teams like Lotto-Intermarché —would be a good fit for the team: Tietema had previously made videos with the Slovenian as a YouTuber, back when he was still racing for Jumbo-Visma.

“Is that realistic, and is it actually being discussed right now? No. But you should never say never,” said Tietema. “We can’t do everything, but if we get the chance and a rider like Primoz sees us as an option, why not?”

When asked, Tietema explains the transfer policy for this window. “We don’t sign top riders just because they have a big name or represent a great opportunity; we sign them because we truly believe we can help them reach a high level—or the highest level. So it’s not as if we focus exclusively on the big names.”

"It’s now the middle of August, and the World Championships and European Championships are still to come. That’s pretty much the same situation we had last year: at the end of the year, there are still some really good riders available, and you can seize great opportunities.

So that’s what we’re looking for in transfers: can we bring in established riders who have already proven themselves and may be looking for the next chapter in their careers, combined with up-and-coming talent,” concludes Tietema.