Team Picnic PostNL

Giro d’Italia Week 2 – Race Report

Giro d'Italia
May 23, 2025
Romain Bardet
Romain Bardet
Alex Edmondson
Alex Edmondson
Chris Hamilton
Chris Hamilton
Gijs Leemreize
Gijs Leemreize
Niklas Märkl
Niklas Märkl
Max Poole
Max Poole
Casper van Uden
Casper van Uden

24th May – Stage 14: Treviso – Nova Gorica

A possible sprint stage awaited the peloton as they crossed the border into Slovenia, but it was definitely a clichéd day of different parts. In the opening phase of the stage there were lots of attacks with Alex Edmondson policing a dangerous group that went clear before it was brought back, with Chris Hamilton then keeping tabs on things as a new four rider move went.

The peloton controlled those ahead and coming into the final 30 kilometres their advantage stood at only one minute, but rainy conditions made for some slippy roads on the local circuit around Nova Gorica. That meant that the GC teams stretched things out on the first climb, but just as things were regrouping a crash within the peloton split the group into pieces. Max Poole and Romain Bardet made it through in the Maglia Rosa group, but the rest of the Team Picnic PostNL squad, including sprint finisher Casper van Uden, were held up behind it.

In the Maglia Rosa group a few teams continued to push on the pace, with Bardet and Poole following within the wheels. Ultimately all but one of the break was caught back in, with Asgreen taking a solo victory while Poole and Bardet finished 11th and 13th respectively in the chasing group.

Team Picnic PostNL coach Matt Winston explained: “We prepared for a possible sprint today, but the weather came in and the race changed dynamic a bit. We focused on positioning ourselves well, just to see how far we could come in the final. Romain made some big investments to get Max in the front of the peloton. At that moment there was quite a large crash and the race split into several groups, with Max in the pink jersey bunch alongside Romain. We came through the day and stay in the fight to try and finish overall in the top ten on GC.”

Results

  • 47.82/H
  • 195KM
  • 987M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1ASGREEN KasperEF Education - EasyPost4:04:40-
2GROVES KadenAlpecin - Deceuninck0:16-
3KOOIJ OlavTeam Visma | Lease a Bike,,-
11POOLE MaxTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
13BARDET RomainTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
86LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL6:12-
87MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
107VAN UDEN CasperTeam Picnic PostNL7:05-
133HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL10:00-
159EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL14:09-

23rd May – Stage 13: Rovigo – Vicenza

Stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia featured a rolling parcours with a punchy finale—prime terrain for a wide range of contenders. As expected, the action ignited early, with several teams eyeing the day’s breakaway. A group of nine riders eventually went clear, including Team Picnic PostNL’s Chris Hamilton. Despite the group’s efforts, the peloton never allowed them more than a 2’30” advantage.

On the main climb of the day, the tempo in the bunch ramped up, reabsorbing the breakaway before the summit. Not much after the San Giovanni in Monte climb, a new move went clear, this time a duo slipping off the front. The peloton, however, kept them firmly on a leash and reeled them back in with 10 kilometres remaining.

Sensing an opportunity on the final descent, Romain Bardet launched a daring attack and was joined by Mathias Vacek. The pair quickly carved out a small gap, stretching it to 15 seconds. But with a final climb still to come, the chasers responded. Bardet and Vacek were reeled in on the uphill, setting the stage for a reduced sprint finish in Vicenza. It was Mads Pedersen who emerged fastest to take the stage win. Max Poole led Team Picnic PostNL across the line in 19th, after another active day in the Giro.

After the stage, Bardet said: “It was a harder day than it looked on paper, with some super fast flat sections at the start and then a hilly section where the race exploded. As a team, we rode well together, looking after each other and staying in position. When I saw an opportunity in the final, I went for it.”

Results

  • 46.875/H
  • 180KM
  • 1561M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1PEDERSEN MadsLidl - Trek3:50:24-
2VAN AERT WoutTeam Visma | Lease a Bike,,-
3DEL TORO IsaacUAE Team Emirates - XRG0:02-
19POOLE MaxTeam Picnic PostNL0:11-
56LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL1:07-
58BARDET RomainTeam Picnic PostNL1:09-
95HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL8:18-
97MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL16:08-
148VAN UDEN CasperTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
149EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

22nd May – Stage 12: Modena – Viadana

Read more on Casper van Uden’s second place in stage 12 here.

21st May – Stage 11: Viareggio – Castelnovo ne’ Monti

After yesterday’s time trial, road racing was back on Wednesday afternoon with a tough stage that included the brutally tough Alpe San Pellegrino ascent – which averaged almost nine percent for 14 kilometres. Potentially a day for the break, a massive battle ensued in the peloton for the first 80 kilometres of the stage with attack after attack.

Eventually a group seemed to go on the lower slopes of San Pellegrino, with Chris Hamilton in the move to represent the team. However, the peloton kept pacing at a good tempo and kept the gap close at around one minute, before they ramped things up even further. Max Poole had a tough moment and had to let go from the peloton with around four kilometres to the top. Sticking together as a group, Romain Bardet helped to pace Poole and Hamilton dropped back from the front.

A committed team effort and long chase over the next 30 kilometres of descent and rolling roads saw the Team Picnic PostNL trio eventually return to the peloton. The gap to the remnants of the break had increased at that point and it looked like they could fight for the stage win, but with around 30 kilometres remaining there was an upping of tempo in the peloton. That meant going onto the last climb the victory was within reach and a fierce pace was set, before Carapaz launched his stage winning move. Bardet helped to ride a more steady tempo for Poole, before the youngster then took over in the final few kilometres – giving everything to the line to limit the losses.

Team Picnic PostNL coach Matt Winston said: “The stage was full-gas for the first 80 kilometres and our sprint group helped to make sure we had a guy we wanted in the break. Just before we hit the long climb of the day, which is probably the third hardest climb of the whole Giro, the break formed and we had Chris in the move. However, the break quickly fell apart and a solid tempo was set in the peloton. Four kilometres from the top Max couldn’t hold onto the peloton anymore and had to let go. Romain waited with him to pace and they were joined by Chris. After a big fight and some super teamwork they brought Max back after roughly 30 kilometres of chasing. Things settled a bit before we went onto the last climb where a strong pace was set from the bottom and Max had to ride at his own pace, with help from Romain. It was a spirited effort from Max and he never gave up which was great to see. It’s really good to have guys like Romain and Chris to help protect and guide him on a day like this, and limit the loses as much as possible. We’ll continue to fight here.”

Results

  • 40.533/H
  • 186KM
  • 3812M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1CARAPAZ RichardEF Education - EasyPost4:35:20-
2DEL TORO IsaacUAE Team Emirates - XRG0:10-
3CICCONE GiulioLidl - Trek,,-
26POOLE MaxTeam Picnic PostNL1:21-
42BARDET RomainTeam Picnic PostNL4:42-
63HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL10:53-
120MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL27:40-
129EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
139LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
153VAN UDEN CasperTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

20th May – Stage 10: Lucca – Pisa

Racing returned as the second week of the Giro d’Italia kicked off with a 28.6 kilometre long time trial from Lucca to Pisa. For most of Team Picnic PostNL it was about getting around the route safely and in a good way, but for Max Poole it was an opportunity to test himself against the clock.

Starting out well with a good pacing plan, Poole rode a strong and even tempo around the course. Navigating the tricky technical sections and fast descent from the climb, the rain began to fall as Poole passed through the second time check. However, he kept good speed for the rest of the route and stopped the clock with a time of 33 minutes and 34 seconds, which would ultimately be enough for 15th place on the day.

Poole reflected on his efforts: “I think it was a pretty solid TT. We tried to be disciplined and wanted to keep it steady throughout the whole time trial which I did. Looking back at Sunday that was unfortunate, but things can happen that are out of your control. I think it’s just the way Giro goes. It can be so up and down and at different points of the three weeks for every rider. I think I did the best I could today and I felt good on the bike so we’ll see what the rest of the race brings.”

Results

  • 52.8/H
  • 28.6KM
  • 125M
  • Time Trial
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1HOOLE DaanLidl - Trek32:30-
2TARLING JoshuaINEOS Grenadiers0:07-
3HAYTER EthanSoudal Quick-Step0:10-
15POOLE MaxTeam Picnic PostNL1:04-
62BARDET RomainTeam Picnic PostNL2:56-
78EDMONDSON AlexTeam Picnic PostNL3:13-
86HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL3:18-
125VAN UDEN CasperTeam Picnic PostNL4:01-
147LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL4:22-
148MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL4:26-