Wout Poels reportedly in talks with Unibet Tietema Rockets for 2026
Wout Poels was among the big-name signings swept up by a determined XDS-Astana going into the winter of 2024 as the team scrambled for UCI points at the end of the 2023-25 promotion-relegation cycle. With that job done (by the summer, in fact), the team is saying goodbye to almost as many riders as were signed (14), including the 38-year-old Dutchman – who scored 394 UCI points, 16th in Astana's own rankings.
Though nothing is confirmed as yet, Daniel Benson has reported that Unibet Tietema Rockets is looking like a leading contender to sign the experienced climber.
The Dutch/French ProTeam led by the enthusiastic and media-savvy Bas Tietema has already made the exciting addition of Dylan Groenewegen (and lead-out man Elmar Reinders) from Jayco-AlUla as part of their drive towards future Tour de France participation. Tour and Vuelta stage-winner Poels could be part of that quest to draw Grand Tour wild cards and guide his young teammates through major stage races.
