From YouTube outsiders to a UCI ProTeam changing the rules of modern cycling.
If you follow the WorldTour closely, you’ve probably noticed how the Tietema team — now known as Unibet Tietema Rockets till 2025, and from this year as Unibet rose Rockets — has become one of the most talked about new forces in the peloton. Their rise isn’t just unusual… it’s genuinely unprecedented. And that’s exactly why so many fans have been following their story.
What started as three friends documenting cycling challenges on YouTube eventually turned into a fully licensed UCI ProTeam taking wins in Europe and Asia. It sounds improbable, but as with most good cycling stories, it began with passion, persistence, and an idea that seemed too bold to work — until it did.
From a YouTube Channel to a Real Cycling Project
The roots go back to 2019, when former rider Bas Tietema revived his love for cycling by launching the Tour de Tietema YouTube channel with friends Josse Wester and Devin van der Wiel. The trio filmed themselves chasing the Tour de France, creating a mix of race day adventures, humor, and behind-the-scenes moments. [youtube.com]
Their following grew quickly ultimately giving them something most amateur teams never have: a loyal community before a team even existed.
That foundation sparked a bigger idea. By 2021, they created the Tour de Tietema Cycling Team at amateur level, partly as a challenge, partly as a testbed for proving what passionate riders could achieve. Bas himself rediscovered competitive motivation and briefly returned to pro racing in 2022.
But the real shift happened in 2023, when they launched the TDT–Unibet Continental Team, pairing their media influence with proper sporting ambition. From day one, they approached team building the same way they approached YouTube: transparency, humor, and a willingness to do things differently. [rawcyclingmag.com]
The Leap to UCI ProTeam Status
Just one year later — an astonishingly fast progression — TDT–Unibet earned UCI ProTeam status for 2024, putting them on the same tier as high profile squads fighting for WorldTour wildcards. [rawcyclingmag.com]
Their rapid rise was driven by:
- A clearly defined fan-first culture
- A distinctive storytelling style in an otherwise traditional sport
- A growing roster of motivated riders
- A sponsorship model strengthened by Unibet
By late 2024, they announced an even bigger structural move: switching to a French license and rebranding as Unibet Tietema Rockets for the 2025 season — a strategic step aimed at increasing their eligibility for Tour de France invitations. While they are still waiting for that invitation, they already participated in one of the biggest races of the year, Paris-Roubaix.
Riders Who Shaped the 2025 Season
In 2025, the roster blended experience with emerging talent. Including riders such as: Odd Christian Eiking, Giovanni Carboni, Lukáš Kubiš and Lander Loockx. In 2026, the notable addition of Alexander Kristoff, as sprinting coach, put the team even more on the radar for.
Behind the scenes, leadership matured too. Julia Soek stepped in as Sports Director, allowing Bas to focus more on longterm vision than daytoday race calls — an important evolution for any growing team. [cyclinguptodate.com]
Why Fans Connect With the Tietema Team
The Tietema story works because it's authentic.
While traditional pro teams are built from federation pipelines or sponsor driven expansions, this team began as an experiment in storytelling. Their content still brings fans inside race days, training camps, and strategy sessions, often through their docu-series We Are The Rockets — which has become a natural extension of their identity. [youtube.com]
Their growth also signals something broader happening in cycling: teams can build value not only through results, but through personality, creativity, and community.
A Season That Proved They Belong
2025 wasn’t just about making noise; the team delivered real results.
They claimed victories at:
- Cholet–Pays de la Loire (Kubiš)
- Paris–Camembert (Loockx)
- Tour of Hellas – Stage 4 (Maire)
- Le Tour de Langkawi – Stage 7 (Kyffin)
Top10 finishes across events like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Presidential Tour of Türkiye, Sibiu Tour, Tour of Denmark, and Münsterland Giro further demonstrated the squad’s capacity to punch above its weight against WorldTour fields.
In just their second ProTeam season, the Tietema Rockets proved they weren’t a novelty — they were competitive.
The Bikes and Gear Behind the Rockets
Cycling fans love tech, and the Tietema team’s 2025 setup reflects a modern, performance driven ProTeam spec:
Raced in 2025:
- Frames: Cannondale
- Groupsets: Shimano
- Wheels: Vision
- Tyres: Pirelli
- Saddle/Tape: Prologo
- Helmets: Kask
- Clothing: Santini
- Power & Navigation: Garmin
For fans who appreciate performance built machines and bold graphics, it’s no surprise these bikes draw interest. While the team updated some of their gear in 2026, moving to Rose as a frames sponsor, fans look forward to have a chance to ride like their heroes.
What’s Next for the Tietema Rockets?
Their aim is clear: a future Tour de France invitation.
The 2025 wildcard route was fiercely contested, but each season of results, fan growth, and roster strengthening brings them a step closer.
If their first years are any indication, the Tietema team’s evolution is far from finished — and they’ll likely take their supporters along for every step of the ride.
