Unibet Rose Rockets Hire Aike Visbeek as Racing Chief
The Dutch ProTeam has named the veteran team manager to lead its racing operations for the 2027 season.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Cycling
Unibet Rose Rockets has hired Aike Visbeek as head of racing for the 2027 season. Visbeek, 50, departed Lotto-Intermarché at the end of June 2026 to spend time with his family.
Why it matters
The appointment places an experienced sporting director at the helm as the team builds on its first Grand Tour appearance at the 2026 Giro d'Italia. The team has stated its aim of earning a Tour de France wildcard invitation next year.
Visbeek, 50, previously spent 2013 to 2019 at Sunweb and was chief performance officer at Lotto. The team will field a largely similar squad for 2027, with Axel Mariault confirmed from CIC Pro Cycling Academy.
The players
Aike Visbeek
A Dutch sports director with more than a decade of experience across several cycling teams, including Sunweb and Lotto-Intermarché.
Unibet Rose Rockets
A Dutch professional cycling team that made its Grand Tour debut at the 2026 Giro d'Italia.
The details
Visbeek's appointment was confirmed as he takes over racing duties from the team's current structure. Bas Tietema is stepping away from the sporting side to focus on media and business responsibilities for the Dutch outfit.
Timeline
End of June 2026: Visbeek departs Lotto-Intermarché.
2026 Giro d'Italia: Unibet Rose Rockets make their Grand Tour debut.
2027 season: Visbeek takes up his role as head of racing.
Season Trajectory
The appointment follows Unibet Rose Rockets' Grand Tour debut at the 2026 Giro d'Italia and positions the squad to chase a Tour de France wildcard invitation. Continuity in the roster for 2027 suggests the team is building steadily within the professional ProTeam tier rather than making a major reset.
Cycling fans following the team can expect a largely unchanged rider roster for 2027, which makes tracking results and rider form more straightforward. Fans planning to follow Grand Tours should watch for the team's wildcard status later in the cycle.
The takeaway
A stable roster paired with an experienced sporting director signals a team focused on steady growth rather than a rebuild. Readers following the sport should watch whether the squad earns its Tour de France wildcard next year.
What happens next
The team is targeting a Tour de France wildcard invitation for the 2027 season, a decision that will be made by race organizers.
Further reading
For more on the sport's teams and races, explore Cycling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyclingnews.
