Van Uden reflects on 'dating' his sprint train after taking Picnic-PostNL's first win of 2026

Casper van Uden secured Picnic-PostNL's inaugural victory of the 2026 season on the final day of April, taking a sprint stage at an unspecified race. This win marks a significant milestone for the team, which had previously seen strong performances from Pavel Bittner, including a second-place finish behind Tim Merlier at Scheldeprijs, but had yet to reach the top step of the podium. Van Uden's success finally breaks the winless streak.

This victory arrives remarkably late for a WorldTour outfit, particularly one with sprint ambitions, highlighting a challenging start to their campaign. While Bittner’s consistent presence near the front in major classics demonstrated potential, the absence of a win had undoubtedly created pressure within the squad. Van Uden's comment about "dating" his sprint train suggests an ongoing process of refinement and cohesion, a common struggle for teams integrating new riders or strategies.

Ultimately, a win in April is better than no win at all. One trusts Picnic-PostNL will now aim to convert this momentum into a more consistent return on their investment, lest their ‘dating’ period extend into a long-term commitment to mediocrity.