Team Picnic PostNL

Giro d’Italia Next Gen – Race Report

Giro d'Italia Next Gen
June 22, 2025
Jacob Bush
Jacob Bush
Oliver Peace
Oliver Peace
Pavel Sumpik
Pavel Sumpik
Matteo Vanhuffel
Matteo Vanhuffel
Jurgen Zomermaand
Jurgen Zomermaand

22nd June – Stage 8: Pinerolo – Pinerolo

The final stage of the Giro d’Italia Next Gen featured two tough ascents of the Prarostino climb and two ascents of a short and steep kicker close to the finish on a challenging local finishing circuit. With less than 30 kilometres to go, the peloton was reduced to a select group as the battle for the general classification intensified. Matteo Vanhuffel showed to be strong, making it onto the final lap in the reduced bunch with GC favourites. On the final time over the Prarostino climb, the front group fractured into several smaller groups as riders launched decisive attacks. Vanhuffel fought hard to stay with the chase group, ultimately crossing the line in 7th place. His consistent effort throughout the week earned him a promising 8th place overall in the general classification, capping off a strong performance in this year’s edition of the Giro d’Italia Next Gen.

After the stage, Vanhuffel said:
“It took a long time again before a breakaway got away. Eventually, a group escaped without anyone from our team about 20 kilometres before the first climb, but they never got more than 40 seconds. Towards the climb, the guys helped me stay well positioned, which they did perfectly. I was able to start the climb in the top 10, and at the top there were only about ten riders left. On the second ascent, it was mostly every rider for themselves. Four riders rode away over the top, while I was in a chasing group of six. I ultimately finished in that group.”

Team Picnic PostNL coach Joey van Rhee added:
“We had a very good week focused on the general classification. Matteo once again took a strong seventh place today and finished eighth overall. He rode very well all week, especially on the climbs. I can honestly say I’m proud of the guys for how we rode for Matteo. I also think we missed Pavel on some days because in a peloton of 33 teams, it’s really tough. It was a week of very warm temperatures, but I think we can look back with satisfaction — finishing in the top 10 means we did a good job.”

Results

  • 45.411/H
  • 127KM
  • 1275M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1NORDHAGEN JørgenTeam Visma | Lease a Bike Development2:47:48-
2OMRZEL JakobBahrain Victorious Development Team,,-
3NOVÁK PavelMBH Bank Ballan CSB0:17-
7VANHUFFEL MatteoDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL1:00-
74PEACE OliverDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL12:45-
76BUSH JacobDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL,,-
83ZOMERMAAND JurgenDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL,,-

21th June – Stage 7: Bra – Prato Nevoso

Stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia Next Gen saw the peloton take on the longest stage and the day with the most elevation over the 163 kilometres Bra to Prato Nevoso. When the stage entered the decisive phase, the peloton chased a solo leader who held a gap of over two minutes. Matteo Vanhuffel stayed well protected in the main bunch by his teammates and showed strong resilience on the final climb where the general classification action really heated up. Despite the attacks behind, the sole breakaway rider, Novak, held on to claim an impressive solo victory in Prato Nevoso. Vanhuffel dug deep to finish 9th in the reduced group behind, putting in a solid ride on a demanding day. Although he dropped one place to 8th in the overall GC, his consistent performance keeps him well positioned with one stage to go.

After the stage, Vanhuffel said: “We tried again to get into the break with Jacob, Oliver, and Jurgen. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to get in the break, so the guys stayed with me all day to position me, which they did very well. On the final climb, I was able to follow the other GC riders until 2.5 kilometres from the finish, when the attacks started. Then I chose to ride my own tempo to the top.”

Results

  • 36.563/H
  • 163KM
  • 3843M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1NOVÁK PavelMBH Bank Ballan CSB4:27:29-
2NORDHAGEN JørgenTeam Visma | Lease a Bike Development1:24-
3PERICAS AdriàUAE Team Emirates Gen Z1:29-
9VANHUFFEL MatteoDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL2:41-
27ZOMERMAAND JurgenDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL8:42-
48BUSH JacobDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL15:01-
68PEACE OliverDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL22:42-

19th June – Stage 5: Fiorenzuola d’Arda – Gavi

A fast day of racing for the Giro d’Italia Next Gen peloton saw a big fight to make the breakaway of the day, which kept the bunch close going onto the longest climb of the stage. There, Team Picnic PostNL rode well and tried to follow any counter moves, with Matteo Vanhuffel making it over the top in an elite group of around 15 to 20 riders.

On the descent the attacks continued, and some riders came back, but on the valley road that followed the elastic snapped; with Vanhuffel forming part of a roughly ten rider leading group with over 60 kilometres still to race. The group out front cooperated well initially, as those closer on GC, including Vanhuffel, kept rotating to increase the gap. Doing so, they held onto a two minute advantage going into the last ten kilometres, but those with an eye on the stage win started rolling attacks. Vanhuffel tried his best to follow, but after putting a lot of effort into the stage already he would have to settle for eighth place at the line; a result that moves him up to seventh on GC overall.

Vanhuffel expressed: “In the beginning we tried again to go in the break with Jacob and Oli, and when bigger moves went or moves with guys who were close to Jurgen and me on GC, then we were also supposed to try. I think we did a really good effort there, but eventually a group went without us which wasn’t a problem. After the long fight for the break we were less then ten kilometres from the big climb where we had the plan to try something there with Jurgen and me. I got away with a group of around ten but we got caught back with three kilometres from the top by Bora who were setting a high pace. I managed to get on the group and we came to the top with around 15 guys. In the descent there was some attacking but the moment we got to the bottom and onto the valley roads, we suddenly got away in a group of 11. Five of us were in a good place on GC so we kept riding to increase the gap on the peloton. With five kilometres to go the other ones who didn’t ride started jumping for the stage win. I gave my all during the stage so I didn’t have any sprint left in me, but we could take a top ten on the day and move up on GC.”

Results

  • 43.892/H
  • 153KM
  • 2174M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1RAFFERTY AdamHagens Berman Jayco3:29:09-
2TURCONI FilippoVF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè0:08-
3OMRZEL JakobBahrain Victorious Development Team,,-
8VANHUFFEL MatteoDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL0:12-
32ZOMERMAAND JurgenDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL2:03-
86BUSH JacobDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL16:21-
90PEACE OliverDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL,,-

17th June – Stage 3: Albese Con Cassano – Passo del Maniva

After a time trial and then a breakaway win, the third stage of racing at the Giro d’Italia Next Gen saw the peloton take on the first summit finish of the race with the tough climb to Passo del Maniva. The early break went and with all Team Picnic PostNL riders in the peloton, focus remained on the penultimate ascent of Passo del Tre Termini, where Oliver Peace, Matteo Vanhuffel and Jurgen Zomermaand made it into the reduce peloton after some good positioning work by Jacob Bush and Pavel Sumpik

The long dragging valley afterwards saw a good pace set at the head of the peloton and as the start of the official climb began with 13 kilometres to go the bunch splintered to pieces. Vanhuffel was the last rider standing from the team heading inside the final eight kilometres, before attacks from the GC favourites started. Riding at his own tempo all the way to the line, Vanhuffel ended in a very respectable 13th place while fellow first-year U23 rider Zomermaand finished in 17th.

Vanhuffel expressed: “In the beginning we tried to go in the break with Jacob and Pavel. After a good fight by the guys, a break went, and Jacob and Oliver reopened the race to bridge to it but it didn’t work, so we came together and fought to position ourselves on the first climb. We did that well and came over top with three guys – Oliver, Jurgen and I, in the reduced peloton. We found each other well again before the last climb where we had the plan that Oliver and Jurgen were going to ride their own pace and I would try to follow the attacks. A super strong pace was set and with around six kilometres to go I had to let go of the group and also ride my own pace until the finish, and ended just outside the top ten.”

Results

  • 41.426/H
  • 144KM
  • 2527M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1WIDAR JarnoLotto Development Team3:28:34-
2FINN LorenzoRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Rookies0:07-
3PERICAS AdriàUAE Team Emirates Gen Z0:24-
13VANHUFFEL MatteoDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL1:49-
17ZOMERMAAND JurgenDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL2:39-
59PEACE OliverDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL11:33-
118BUSH JacobDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL23:46-
OTLŠUMPÍK PavelDevelopment Team Picnic PostNL-