Team Picnic PostNL

Vuelta a España Week 2 | Race Report

Vuelta a España
September 1, 2026
Chris Hamilton
Chris Hamilton
Timo de Jong
Timo de Jong
Gijs Leemreize
Gijs Leemreize
Juan Guillermo Martinez
Juan Guillermo Martinez
Oliver Peace
Oliver Peace
Timo Roosen
Timo Roosen

Stage 13: Almuñécar -> Loja

Stage 13 of La Vueltawas a tricky and hilly one, with a large breakaway forming early in the day. Team Picnic PostNL was represented in the move by Gijs Leemreize, who stayed in the breakaway as it remained clear of the peloton throughout the stage. In the finale, a smaller group broke clear from the breakaway to fight for the stage victory, with Van Aert taking the win. Leemreize sprinted to 14th from the chasing group, after an aggressive day at the front of the race.

Results

  • 42.219/H
  • 192.8KM
  • 3277M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1VAN AERT WoutTeam Visma | Lease a Bike4:34:00.000-
2PARET-PEINTRE ValentinSoudal Quick-Step,,-
3BRENNAN MatthewTeam Visma | Lease a Bike0:24.000-
14LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL0:45.000-
121HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL15:22.000-
134DE JONG TimoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
145MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
150PEACE OliverTeam Picnic PostNL36:45.000-
151ROOSEN TimoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

Stage 12: Vera -> Calar Alto

Stage 12 was always expected to be a day for the breakaway or a battle between the GC contenders. In the end, the breakaway got its chance. It took some time before the decisive move finally formed, but once it did, it was a big one. Twenty-six riders went clear initially, with another four riders later bridging across. Chris Hamilton was among those who made the connection for Team Picnic PostNL. The breakaway quickly established a substantial advantage, eventually stretching to around seven and a half minutes as the race headed towards the decisive climbs When the pace increased on the penultimate climb, Hamilton was unable to follow the strongest riders and had to let the front of the race go. At the finish on Calar Alto, Omrzel proved strongest from the breakaway to take the stage victory. For Team Picnic PostNL, Gijs Leemreize was the first rider across the finish line.

Results

  • 37.038/H
  • 166.6KM
  • 4475M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1OMRZEL JakobBahrain - Victorious4:29:53.000-
2BERRADE UrkoEquipo Kern Pharma1:56.000-
3BUITRAGO SantiagoBahrain - Victorious2:13.000-
30LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL14:12.000-
49HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL23:10.000-
82MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL35:09.000-
114DE JONG TimoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
138PEACE OliverTeam Picnic PostNL40:28.000-
139ROOSEN TimoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

Stage 11: Cartagena -> Lorca

A flatter start to the stage saw a small break go clear and the peloton remain in control. A brief period of echelon action saw things regroup, before a hard pace was set on the only climb of the day and the peloton dramatically thinned down. Gijs Leemreize and Timo de Jong made the front bunch for the team, with De Jong trying his best to navigate the hectic finale to compete in the sprint. Unfortunately, around the last sharp turn with 400 metres to go he had to take evasive action to avoid a falling rider in front of him, and therefore couldn’t get in the mix for a top ten result come the line.

Results

  • 46.771/H
  • 153.8KM
  • 1293M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1BRENNAN MatthewTeam Visma | Lease a Bike3:17:18.000-
2COQUARD BryanCofidis,,-
3MEEUS JordiRed Bull - BORA - hansgrohe,,-
21DE JONG TimoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
53LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
129HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL7:59.000-
130ROOSEN TimoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
144PEACE OliverTeam Picnic PostNL9:39.000-
151MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

Stage 10: Alcaraz -> Elche de la Sierra

Stage 10 of La Vuelta was expected to favour the strong sprinters, with a long uphill drag towards the finish potentially making the finale more selective. Team Picnic PostNL started the day with six riders, as Henri-François Haquin did not take the start after additional checks following his crash on stage 9.

After around 20 kilometres, a seven-rider breakaway established itself. Their advantage grew to just under three minutes, but the peloton kept the escapees under control throughout the stage. As the race approached the top of the final climb, attacks in the peloton caused several splits. The groups came back together over the summit, but the increased pace quickly brought down the gap to the breakaway. The final escapees were caught with two kilometres to go, setting up a hectic finale. A late attack disrupted the sprint, with the attacking duo only caught on the line. Tronchon took the stage win, while Gijs Leemreize was Team Picnic PostNL’s first rider across the finish.

Results

  • 44.743/H
  • 184.7KM
  • 2669M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1TRONCHON BastienGroupama - FDJ United4:07:41.000-
2CORT MagnusUno-X Mobility,,-
3NYS ThibauLidl - Trek,,-
21LEEMREIZE GijsTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
38DE JONG TimoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
87HAMILTON ChrisTeam Picnic PostNL1:07.000-
132PEACE OliverTeam Picnic PostNL10:12.000-
137ROOSEN TimoTeam Picnic PostNL10:32.000-
140MARTINEZ Juan GuillermoTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
DNSRENARD-HAQUIN Henri-FrançoisTeam Picnic PostNL-