Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Sunday, December 12, 2021
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2021 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers. - Rudyard Kipling
Les Woodland's book Tour of Flanders: The Inside Story - The Rocky Roads of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is available as an audiobook here.
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 19: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 27: Heusden Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 29: Diegemcross
- Dec 30: Azencross
- Jan 1, 2022: GP Sven Nys Cross
- Jan 16 - 23, 2022: Le Tour de Langkawi
- Jan 22, 2022: Flandriencross
- Jan 26 - 29, 2022: Challenge Illes Balears
- Jan 30 - Feb 6, 2022: Vuelta a San Juan
- Feb 12, 2022: Gavere Cyclocross
Latest completed racing:
- Dec 11: Ethiascross-Essen
- Dec 5:
Scheldecross Antwerp- Cancelled because of Covid-19 - Nov 13: GP Leuven
- Nov 7: Elite Men European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 6: Elite Women European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Koppenberg Cyclocross
- Oct 31: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
- Oct 24: Ronde van Drenthe
- Oct 23: Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
First, here's the announcement from Team Jumbo-Visma that granted Groenewegen a release from his contract:
After six years of loyal service, Dylan Groenewegen will leave Team Jumbo-Visma. The Dutch sprinter recently informed the team that he had received an attractive sportive offer from another team for next season.
In order not to impede the sporting development of the rider who helped shape the success of Team Jumbo-Visma with his sprint victory on the Champs-Elysées, general director Richard Plugge agreed with Groenewegen to dissolve the contract.
Dylan Groenewegen wins 2019 Tour de France stage seven. ASO photo
“Dylan’s desire to ride the biggest races is very understandable”, says Plugge. “We have always had an excellent relationship. That is why we decided to cooperate with his wish for a transfer. On the other hand, it’s a pity because Dylan is a great rider and a great man. I sincerely hope that he will be successful again on the highest podium.”
Groenewegen leaves the team where he achieved more than fifty victories with mixed feelings. “Team Jumbo-Visma is perhaps the best team in the world at the moment. The only reason I’m leaving is the sporting perspective”, says the 28-year-old rider. “I might miss the Dutch people around me and the Dutch mentality, but this opportunity was too good to pass up. I’m glad we quickly got out of it with both teams. We did so in a good and friendly way.”
The sudden farewell gives Merijn Zeeman, the sportive director at Team Jumbo-Visma, conflicting feelings. “It is with a heavy heart that I see Dylan leave. However, I understand that he sees more sporting opportunities with his new team. That is why I wholeheartedly grant Dylan this transfer. We have experienced an unforgettable journey together. Dylan will always hold a special place in my heart, and I want to wish him all the luck and success.”
The Dutch World Tour formation will settle the departure of the four-time stage winner in the Tour de France internally. “With Olav Kooij and David Dekker, among others, we have young sprinters knocking on the door. Now Dylan is leaving, they will have other opportunities, and that will be good for their development”, Zeeman concludes.
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And here's the statement from Groenewegen's new squad, Team BikeExchange:
Team BikeExchange, to be named Team BikeExchange-Jayco in 2022, is pleased to announce the signing of powerful Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, an exciting late addition, bolstering the men’s sprint squad and extending the team roster to 29 riders.
The 28-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Australian outfit and will come onboard with Team BikeExchange on January 1st, 2022, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and sprint success.
The Amsterdam born fast-man has taken an impressive 56 career victories, including four victories at the Tour de France, three of them individual stage wins, and with this, the squad is thrilled to see how Groenewegen can elevate the team in sprint finishes over the coming years.
Brent Copeland, Team BikeExchange-Jayco General Manager:
“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. 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.”
Dylan Groenewegen:
“First of all, I must thank Team Jumbo-Visma and all the staff and riders that I have been working with over the past six years. We have had amazing results together and I will always be grateful for this. Now it is time to start another chapter of my life and my professional career, and I strongly believe that joining Team BikeExchange-Jayco now is the right to move and environment for me to start winning again. Since I started to talk to Brent (Copeland) and the technical staff, I felt that this was the right place and it is an incredible opportunity, I am looking forward to fighting for important results with the team.”
Dylan Groenewegen
Date of Birth: 21st June 1993 (28)
Nationality: Dutch
Joins GreenEDGE Cycling: 2022
New Contract: 2022 - 2024
Top Results:
1st 4x Tour de France stage wins (19, 18, 17)
1st Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne (19)
1st 3x Paris-Nice stage wins (19, 18)
1st Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (18)
1st 5x Tour of Britain stage wins (19, 17, 16)
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Here’s the team’s release:
The first seasonal training camp of the Drone Hopper Androni Giocattoli did not exactly start in the best way. Yesterday, on the first day of training in Benidorm in Spain, three riders of the team were hit by a car. The Colombians Brandon Rojas, Juan Diego Alba and the Spaniard Martì Vigo remain involved.
The youngest of the Colombians, Brandon Rojas, who has remedied a cut in the throat area and a blow to the right knee, got the worst. Transported to the nearby city hospital, the 19-year-old Colombian, after an afternoon of examinations, fractures were ruled out. In the evening, Rojas, who had three stitches applied to his neck, was discharged. Only a few bruises, however, fortunately for the other two riders involved. The accident was caused by a car that got back on track just as the riders arrived on a slight downhill stretch to the left in the other direction of travel. Violent and inevitable the collision with Rojas who literally bounced off the windshield of the car. The rider will take a few days of rest before resuming training with the team.
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