"It's looking good! We can be on the start line in Barcelona" – Bas Tietema "very confident" of historic Tour de France debut for Unibet Rose Rockets in 2026

Bas Tietema says he is “very confident” that Unibet Rose Rockets will receive a wildcard for the 2026 Tour de France, describing the team’s chances as “looking good” as ASO prepares to make its final selections.

What seemed impossible 12 months ago now appears firmly within reach — and Tietema believes his young project is on the cusp of an extraordinary milestone.

Tietema spoke during the live theatre show De Laatste Etappe in Utrecht, in quotes collected by Wielerflits, where the 2026 Tour was discussed by Jip van den Bos, Stef Clement, Jose De Cauwer and Tom Dumoulin. When the subject of a wildcard arose, Eurosport commentator Van den Bos made it clear she sees the team as a strong contender, saying there is “a very big chance” the Rockets will be invited.

Pressed directly on whether his squad will start in Barcelona next summer, Tietema struck a careful balance between formality and excitement. “The formal answer is that we still have to wait and see,” he said. “But it’s looking good, so I’m very confident. I hope we can be on the start line in Barcelona. And I hope we can say that in three years we have gone from the Ster van Zwolle to the Tour de France. That would be an enormous reward.”

The dramatic shift in circumstances over the past year has opened the door for the Rockets in ways few predicted. Their French licence, the disappearance of Arkea-B&B Hotels, Cofidis having a guaranteed wildcard, and a UCI rule change allowing Grand Tours to award five invitations instead of four have all tilted the odds in their favour. What once felt like a long-term dream has turned into a realistic short-term ambition.

Behind the scenes, the team has spent months preparing financially and competitively to prove they can field a credible Grand Tour line-up in 2026. High-profile signings such as Dylan Groenewegen, Wout Poels and Victor Lafay underline that intent. “We don’t want to be there just to take part,” Tietema said earlier this year. “We also want to win the stages that suit us.”

Whether the final decision lands in their favour now rests with ASO — but Tietema’s confidence, the team’s strengthened roster, and the shifting wildcard landscape all point to a once-unthinkable Tour de France debut edging ever closer.