Unibet Rose Rockets must chase stage wins in Giro without Kittel

The Unibet Rose Rockets have yet to secure the coveted stage win in the Giro d’Italia. This Thursday, a new opportunity awaits in Novi Ligure, depending on how the race unfolds. Can Dylan Groenewegen finally strike? If he does, he’ll celebrate the victory without Marcel Kittel. The German sprint coach has left the Giro d’Italia.

Kittel was appointed during the winter as the Rockets’ sprint coach, becoming a key figure in achieving success with Groenewegen. The four wins this season are proof that their collaboration is going exceptionally well. The Rockets have also shown their strength in the Giro so far, but success has been elusive—partly due to crashes.

During the first three sprint opportunities, Kittel followed the race from the team car, but after the second rest day, he returned home. “Some time ago, we decided I would leave the Giro on the second rest day,” he explained Instagram. “The sprint train is on track. The guys know what to do, and I can continue my preparatory work from home as sprint coach.”

The first stage in Bulgaria was a major target for the Rockets, but Groenewegen was involved in a crash. Two days later, he came close to victory but had to settle for a narrow third place. In Naples, everything seemed on track, but the sprinter crashed again in the final corner. That elusive win has yet to materialize, but more opportunities remain.

“I’m happy to be home with my family. But it also hurts a bit, because I’ve left my other family in Italy behind. Together with all the Rocketeers, we’ve worked on our Mission Giro. We came so close. Will that sprint come? Today might be another chance, and then there will be two more sprint opportunities in Milan and Rome. I’ll be cheering from home, and they’ll hear me shouting, all the way to Italy.”