The prolific sprinter has left the team he's been with since 2016 to ensure he's on the start line at the biggest bike races in the world. Jumbo-Visma's roster has a strong general classification focus, as well as the prodigious all-round talents of Wout van Aert.
That was less of a problem when Groenewegen was winning races at will, but after a UCI-enforced nine month suspension following a life-threatening crash for Fabio Jakobsen, adjudicated to have been caused by Groenewegen, it wasn't as easy for Groenewegen to return to taking victories. He faced competition to be at any top-level race, let alone as the squad's protected sprinter in a Grand Tour with riders like Primoz Roglic on the roster as the natural leader for Grand Tours.
Groenewegen negotiated a transfer to Team BikeExchange-Jayco as the Australian team will be known in 2022, with the details of the transfer not disclosed.
"We do not want to hinder the sporting development of Dylan, who helped put the team on the map with, among other things, his sprint victory on the Champs-Élysées," Jumbo-Visma team boss Richard Plugge said.
“We have always had a very good relationship. That is why we decided to cooperate with his departure wish. As unfortunate as I think it is, because Dylan is a great rider and a nice man.”
Groenewegen says he'll miss working with a team of the same nationality but believes the Australian squad is the "right place" for him at this stage in his career.
“Jumbo-Visma is perhaps the best team out there at the moment," said Groenewegen. "I may miss the Dutch people around me and the Dutch mentality, but this opportunity was too good to pass up. I am happy that we came out quickly with both teams in a good and friendly way."
“I strongly believe that joining Team BikeExchange is now the right step and environment for me to start winning again. Ever since I started talking to Brent (Copeland, General Manager for Team BikeExchange-Jayco) and the coaching staff, I felt this was the right place and it's an incredible opportunity. I look forward to competing with the team for important results."
The 28-year-old was one of the top sprinters in the world before the Jakobsen incident, and had claimed four Tour de France stage victories, Belgian semi-classic wins and racked up wins in stage races around the world. He took three wins in the 2021 season, none at WorldTour level, and will be hoping that 2022 offers him a change in fortunes.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco welcomed Groenewegen in, extolling the virtues of the Dutch star.
“There was no hesitating when this opportunity came around, having Dylan joining Team BikeExchange-Jayco is something which brings great excitement to the team, a truly classy rider who rounds off our 2022 roster in a perfect way," said Copeland. "I would like to thank Richard Plugge and Team Jumbo-Visma for making the transfer an easy process for all parties. It’s been a constructive process for all people involved.
"Dylan doesn’t need much of an introduction, everyone in the peloton knows him and the potential he has as a sprinter, as well as a great team player, and we certainly believe he will adapt perfectly to our team. Our team owner, Gerry Ryan, has created and supported, since the beginning of the negotiation, the right path to follow in order to secure such a great rider for our team’s future.
"Our performance staff, together with our Head Sport director Matthew White, are already at work to ensure Dylan has the full support he deserves in order to perform to the best of his ability, as well as fit into the environment of the team.”
Groenewegen joins a squad that is coming off a down season, with just nine wins in the season, and their best results coming through Simon Yates winning the Tour of the Alps overall and finishing third at the Giro d'Italia. The sprinting stocks are a mixed bag, with Michael Matthews sprinting at the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana despite not being a pure sprinter. Australian Kaden Groves is a promising talent but had his 2021 season dogged by injury, while neo-pros from track cycling, Kelland O'Brien and Campbell Stewart, also have a sprinting background in their road performances to date.
