Team Picnic PostNL Raisin

Tour of the Alps | Race Report

Tour of the Alps
April 22, 2026
Mattia Gaffuri
Mattia Gaffuri
Chris Hamilton
Chris Hamilton
James Knox
James Knox
Gijs Leemreize
Gijs Leemreize
Ulrik Tvedt
Ulrik Tvedt
Matteo Vanhuffel
Matteo Vanhuffel

Stage 5: Trento -> Bozen/Bolzano

The final stage of the Tour of the Alps took the riders over 128.6 kilometres from Trento to Bolzano. Despite its relatively short distance, the stage packed a punch with two demanding ascents of the Montoppio in the finale. Early in the stage, a breakaway of 15 riders went clear, including Chris Hamilton for Team Picnic PostNL, but the peloton kept the move on a short leash and quickly brought everything back together. A second group of 12 riders then managed to go clear and was given more freedom, building a small advantage.

However, on the first ascent of the Montoppio, the peloton set a fierce tempo, reeling in the breakaway and turning the stage into a battle among the favourites. As the pace continued to rise on the climbs, the peloton was gradually reduced. Gijs Leemreize showed strong form to hang on deep into the finale, but just before the summit he was unable to follow the final accelerations. Up front, race leader Pellizzari secured both the stage win and the overall victory. Behind, Leemreize was the first rider home for Team Picnic PostNL, finishing just outside the top 10. He also wrapped up a consistent week by securing 16th place in the general classification.

Results

  • 38.465/H
  • 128.6KM
  • 3047M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1PELLIZZARI GiulioRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe3:20:36.000-
2BERNAL EganINEOS Grenadiers0:30.000-
3STORER MichaelTudor Pro Cycling Team,,-
15LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL5:22.000-
28GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL7:34.000-
38VANHUFFEL MatteoTeam Picnic PostNL13:57.000-
48HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL16:10.000-

Stage 4: Arco -> Trento

Stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps proved to be the queen stage of the race. Covering just under 168 kilometres but featuring a massive 4,111 metres of elevation, it was a relentless day of climbing from start to finish. Right from the uphill start, the race exploded into action with a large group of around 30 riders going clear, including Gijs Leemreize and Chris Hamilton for Team Picnic PostNL. However, the peloton kept the move on a tight leash and quickly brought everything back together.

Soon after, a new breakaway formed and this time the peloton allowed it more freedom. The group built a lead of up to three and a half minutes, before the pace in the bunch began to increase. As the climbs stacked up, the gap steadily came down, with Team Picnic PostNL well represented in the peloton with four riders still in contention. During the stage, after managing some sickness earlier in the week, James Knox stepped off the bike. Although the breakaway began to split on the final climbs, the peloton ultimately ran out of road to bring them back. Up front, Jasch took the stage victory after a strong ride from the escape. Behind, Gijs Leemreize led the team home with a 13th place, finishing in the first chasing group just behind the remaining breakaway riders.

Results

  • 37.553/H
  • 167.8KM
  • 4111M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1JASCH LennartTudor Pro Cycling Team4:28:06.000-
2SOBRERO MatteoLidl - Trek0:10.000-
3IACOMONI FedericoTeam UKYO0:11.000-
13LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL0:20.000-
36GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL0:29.000-
40HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL2:59.000-
56VANHUFFEL MatteoTeam Picnic PostNL8:48.000-
DNFKNOX JamesTeam Picnic PostNL-

Stage 3: Latsch/Laces -> Arco

The third day of racing in Alps was halted almost immediately after a large crash a few kilometres into the stage saw Chris Hamilton, James Knox and Ulrik Tvedt go down for the team. The trio were able to continue, but Tvedt eventually stopped later in the stage. Once racing had resumed, it was a fast and frenetic opening with lots of attacks, where Gijs Leemreize was particularly present for the team, making it into a promising group that was brought back on the longest climb of the day. From there, things settled down somewhat and a two rider break went clear, but the reduced peloton eventually made the catch in the closing few kilometres. That set up a reduced bunch sprint, where Hamilton navigated the chaos well to take a solid seventh place on the stage.

Results

  • 39.749/H
  • 174.5KM
  • 3671M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1PIDCOCK TomPinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team4:23:24.000-
2DATI TommasoTeam UKYO,,-
3BERNAL EganINEOS Grenadiers,,-
7HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
14LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
23VANHUFFEL MatteoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
30GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
85KNOX JamesTeam Picnic PostNL16:39.000-
DNFTVEDT UlrikTeam Picnic PostNL-

Stage 2: Telfs -> Martell/Val Martello

Read up on our full report here, as Mattia Gaffuri took third place on the stage.

Stage 1: Innsbruck -> Innsbruck

The Tour of the Alps got underway on Monday afternoon with a two different loops that focused on one climb each around Innsbruck that then led into a flatter final 20 kilometres, that also featured a few kickers too which could act as potential launchpads for attacks. Team Picnic PostNL lined-up with a mixed squad made up of riders from their Men’s program, while Ulrik Tvedt and Matteo Vanhuffel also joined from the Development program, able to gain valuable experience throughout the upcoming week of racing. The stage itself was very controlled with only a three rider break going up the road, and the peloton very early on making it clear they wanted to ride for a reduced sprint finish. In the finale a few riders attacked, but it came down to that expected reduced bunch gallop where Chris Hamilton led the squad home on the day.

Results

  • 42.95/H
  • 144.3KM
  • 1901M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1DATI TommasoTeam UKYO3:21:35.000-
2PIDCOCK TomPinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team,,-
3STORK FlorianTudor Pro Cycling Team,,-
19HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
46LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
49GAFFURI MattiaTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
53VANHUFFEL MatteoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
107KNOX JamesTeam Picnic PostNL8:56.000-
110TVEDT UlrikTeam Picnic PostNL,,-