The cycling world’s attention turns to the first Grand Tour of the season in May: the Giro d’Italia. For the 2026 edition, Team Picnic PostNL will take on a special identity, racing and being promoted throughout the three weeks as Team Picnic PostNL Raisin.
While the officially registered team name remains unchanged, the team will be promoted as Team Picnic PostNL Raisin during the Giro. This activation celebrates the partnership with Raisin, who are using the race to launch their consumer business in the Italian market.
The activation will also be visible in an adapted race kit, with Raisin featured prominently, while the team’s distinctive identity – the orange Keep Challenging stripes – remain clearly recognisable in the peloton.
The Giro provides a unique platform for this step, as an event that holds a cultural significance in Italy that extends far beyond sport, making it a natural moment to connect with a wider audience.
The team’s Head of Commerce Jente Rijpstra explained: “Raisin is a very reliable and solid partner and at the same time, highly innovative as a major challenger in the European savings and investment market. The parallels with us – as a challenger and an innovator that operates with the similar energetic spirit – speak for themselves. We are all really pleased that we can support Raisin’s launch in Italy.”
Raisin CEO Tamaz Georgadze added: “Cycling is characterised by endurance, discipline and strategic optimisation. These are also the cornerstones of long-term saving and investing. We share these values with the team, which is why it was a logical step to deepen our commitment just in time for Italy’s most important race, celebrating the launch of Raisin in the third-largest deposit market of the EU.”
Sporting focus – stage hunting with the Orange Train
From a sporting perspective, the team heads into the Giro with a shift in focus. Initial plans included targeting the general classification with Max Poole alongside sprint ambitions with Casper van Uden. However, with Poole continuing his recovery, the approach is clear: race proactively, identify opportunities each day, and commit fully when the moment is right.
To do that, the team bring a mix of experienced international riders and five Dutchmen – the Orange Train – to the race; something that strongly reflects the team’s roots.
Team coach Matt Winston explains: “Without GC ambitions we have the freedom to race aggressively and pick our moments across the three weeks, taking the opportunity to go all-in or save our energy wisely on the moments that don’t suit us. On the tougher stages, riders like Chris, Frank, Warren and Gijs have shown they can compete for results in Grand Tours before, and we’ll look to use that strength again. In the sprints, our approach remains consistent: we believe in our group and in the ability of our Orange Train to position Casper to compete for top results, just like we did last year. The three weeks of racing will be a challenge, but it is one we are ready to take head on with this group.”
Full line-up:
Frank van den Broek
Warren Barguil
Sean Flynn
Chris Hamilton
Timo de Jong
Gijs Leemreize
Tim Naberman
Casper van Uden
