Dylan Groenwegen
“Team Jumbo-Visma is perhaps the best team out there,” the runner said in a statement. “The only reason I left is the sporting perspective. I may miss the Dutch people around me and the Dutch mentality, but this opportunity was too good to be missed.”
Groenewegen was suspended for nine months last year for causing a serious crash to compatriot Fabio Jacobsen at the Tour of Poland. The Jumbo-Visma runner returned to the peloton in May for the Tour of Italy. Groenwegen achieved this year’s victories in three stages in Wallonia (twice) and Denmark.
He rode Amsterdam with the Dutch team from the WorldTour for six years. Groenewegen won the final stage of the Tour of the Champs-Elysées in Paris in 2017, and a year later took home two stage victories at the Tour de France. Groenewegen also triumphed on the Tour stage in 2019. Last year and this year he was missing from the Tour team. Jumbo-Visma focused mainly on the general classification and winning the yellow jersey. Slovenian leader Primoz Roglic finished second last year behind compatriot Tadej Pojacar, and this year it was Denmark’s Jonas Vinggaard of Jumbo Visma.
Classification ambitions
The team’s classification ambitions ensured that Groenewegen had fewer chances and chances as a runner. It is now leading to a crack. “We don’t want to hamper the sporting development of Dylan, who helped put the team on the map, among other things, with his quick victory on the Champs-Elysees,” says team manager Richard Plug. “His desire to ride in the biggest races is very understandable. We have always had a very good relationship. That is why we decided to collaborate with his desire to leave. It is as unfortunate as it is, because Dylan is a great racer and a great man. I sincerely hope he succeeds again on the highest podium.”
Jumbo-Visma will accommodate Groenewegen’s departure internally. According to sporting director Meren Zeemann, young sprinters Olaf Koeig and David Decker now have more opportunities. “And that’s only good for their development.”
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