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ALULA, Saudi Arabia (VN) – Dylan Groenewagen begins his 2023 season ready to impress.
The Dutch sprinter started the five-day Saudi Tour on Monday with a winning pressure for new team co-sponsor AlUla, the tourism project that is promoting the area around Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage site in Hegra.
For sprinters, the only thing that matters is winning.
After winning two stages here last year, Groenewegen won’t be happy if he doesn’t go home with at least one “W” this week to open his 2023 book.
“I hope to win at least one stage here this week,” Groenewegen said on Sunday. “It will be important for our new sponsors, but also for the team. It is always good to start the season with a win.”
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Groenewegen, 29, admits he feels more at home in the team as he pedals into his second full season in the Jeko-Alula colours. Last winter, he was a late-season entrant to the Australian-backed team with the pressure on to win.
With seven wins in the Tour de France and a very important stage win, Groenewegen lived up to his end of the bargain. A series of late-season top-fives helped seal the team’s WorldTour future.
Although his 2022 victory was a far cry from his stellar runs in 2018 and 2019, finding his groove with his new team was an important milestone for Groenewegen last year.
“There are a lot of strong riders to support me this year. They believe in me, and I believe in them,” said Groenewegen. “I’ve learned from the mistakes, and I’ve learned from the good things from last year. We’re looking forward to doing some big things this season.”
Construction of a new train in Jayco-AlUla
A smiling and relaxed Groenewegen mingled and mingled with VIPs on Sunday at a pre-race ceremony ahead of the start of the Saudi Tour on Monday.
Groenewegen’s conduct reflects his new attitude come 2023.
It’s been a somewhat painful season for Groenewagen, who burst onto the top scene six years ago as one of the most explosive sprinters in the bunch.
Last season saw Groenewegen finally put the trauma of the 2020 Tour of Poland behind him. Winning a stage in the 2022 Tour was extremely emotional and personal for the Dutch rider.
Jumbo-Visma, where he raced for six seasons from 2016-2021, cut him loose in part because the team was committed to winning the yellow jersey, and did not have room for Groenewegen in his Tour future.
The amicable separation served both sides well. Jumbo-Visma brought their full mass to the Tour and came home with their first yellow jersey alongside Jonas Winggaard.
Groenewegen has found a new home in the Australian-backed GreenEdge franchise. Groenewegen quickly felt at ease in the team’s relaxed and winning attitude.
Jayco-AlUla will be working out the kinks of Groenewegen’s leadout this week at the third edition of the Saudi Tour.
Newcomers Lukas Postalberger and Zdenek Stybar will take their roles in controlling the bunch, and a healthy Luka Mezgec will be ready to take him to the line.
“It’s the first race after a harsh winter and some good training camps,” said Groenewegen. Everyone is ready to work together for good results.
For 2023, it is all about building on last year’s base and building on the early momentum. There is no better way to do this than to win.
“We are here to win a few stages, that’s why we are here,” he said.
“The level is high, but so are the riders. If the riders are good, the level will be high,” Groenewegen. “You have some wind, some climb finishes, some sprints. It’s a good way to start the season.
The Saudi Tour sees some challengers lined up to make things difficult for Groenewegen. Pascal Ackermann (UAE Emirates), Simon Consoni and Max Walshed (Cofidis), Cees Boll (Astana-Kazakhstan), and Jonathan Milan (Bahrain Victorious) are also keen to start 2023 with a win.
Healthy and ambitious, Groenewegen wants to blast through the sands of the Saudi desert with the wind at his back.
“It feels a bit like a home race,” he said of the Saudi Tour and the team’s new co-sponsor. “The guys are excited to see us. We are coming here in good shape after a few training camps. Everyone is excited to win again.”
Confidence is everything for top sprinters.
A win in the sand, sun and wind of Saudi Arabia will quickly set the tone.
