“I feel free, without restrictions. Fun is king here and that doesn’t stop me from being professional and ambitious. That’s what I was already looking for as a rider,” Kittel assures.
More than just Groenewegen
Of course, the main attraction of the French/Dutch team is their star sprinter backed by Kittel. But there’s many talented young riders he tries to help in their growth with just as much enthusiasm as he puts into the Groenewegen-project. There are promising all-rounders with fast finish in Lukáš Kubiš and Matyáš Kopecký. There are also young speedsters Tobias Müller, Karsten Feldmann and Ronan Augé. All under Kittel’s supervision.
And the German makes it clear that he was keen on getting to know closely every single one of his co-workers upon arrival to the team: “I wanted to know the factors influencing their well-being, their personal goals, and how to align them with those of the team.”
The Slovakian champion Lukas Kubis was in the spotlight several times in 2025
Sprinting is art
Even though Kittel is no longer in the saddle himself, he still follows every bunch sprint with great interest. In the age of data, sprinting remains for him an unpredictable art.
“It’s not an exact science: it’s raw power meeting confidence, instinct, and reading the movements of teammates and opponents. Today, we talk a lot about the aerodynamics of the bike, the rider, nutrition… Certainly, all of that develops physical performance, but take Jonathan Milan: he’s not the most aerodynamically inclined, and yet he keeps winning.”
The start of the season has been pretty decent for Unibet’s sprinter department. In particular thanks to Groenewegen who rediscovered his killer instinct and already won three one-day races. “I’m very happy with the first eight weeks. We mustn’t forget where we’ve come from; we’re a developing team. Our ambitions are high, and everyone is committed. Right now, we can’t ask for more,” says Kittel.
Giro debut is still far down the road
After the disappointment of not being selected for the Tour de France, the team received an invitation to the Giro d’Italia. It’s not precisely what the team hoped for, but a Grand Tour invitation is still priceless. The plan of action had to adjust a bit, but Groenewegen will remain in center of attention.
And before that, a bunch of other races. For a team strongly tied to Benelux, the spring classics are maybe just as important of an objective. “We have to focus on our current situation, on the upcoming races. We also have goals for the Classics. Nevertheless, the Giro will be a great opportunity to show where we stand,” Kittel concludes.