Dylan Groenewegen's team gets strong reinforcement with Michael Matthews: "An important role for him"

Dylan Groenewegen kicked off his season on Saturday. The Amsterdam native from Jayco AlUla is participating in the Classica Comunitat Valencia along with fellow countrymen Elmar Reinders and Jan Maas, where IDLProCycling.com caught up with him at the start in La Nucia to discuss his plans and goals for this spring.

Groenewegen enjoys racing in Spain, but it's been a while since he last competed there. "Phew, maybe three years ago?" he responds inquisitively to our prompt. Actually, it's been four years: his last race on Spanish soil was on February 9, 2020, in a Jumbo-Visma jersey. "I like coming here for training, but I'm not sure why it's been so long. Normally, I always race in Valencia, but now it seems to have turned a bit into the AlUla Tour."

The fact remains that he is present at the first race of the season on European soil, with a strong team that includes Michael Matthews and Luka Mezgec. "This race is quite convenient, especially since we're already here for a training camp. It might also provide a chance for us to get into the finale, though that will be difficult. If not, it still makes for good training."

As a rider for Jayco AlUla, the AlUla Tour, starting next week in Saudi Arabia, is an important race for Groenewegen. "The Tour Down Under is also really important for us, but they've had some bad luck there with illnesses and Luke Plapp's crash. However, with AlUla on our jerseys, it's an important race for us, and I hope to be in good form there as well. But that's always my goal, even here in Valencia. The race could go either way, but I'm feeling in good shape."

During the winter, Groenewegen's team was significantly strengthened: for sprinting prowess, Caleb Ewan and Max Walscheid were added to the roster, while Luke Plapp and Mauro Schmid were brought in for the more demanding roles. "Indeed, we've strengthened significantly in depth. The team is really building up, and it's going well. The level is increasing, and the team is becoming more professional, you can feel it. Now, it's up to us to translate that into results."

Groenewegen gets support from Matthews

Groenewegen already knows he needs to deliver results in the Tour de France, but where else will we see the Dutchman in action? "This year, I'll be more visible in the Belgian races. Bredene-Koksijde, Gent-Wevelgem, Scheldeprijs, Brugge-De Panne... those are my targets," reveals the sprinter.

This will mostly be with the same lead-out as last year, although a new man is joining. "Mezgec and Elmar Reinders are of course in that train, but Matthews will also play an important role. He can aim for great results in stages, but it's also part of the plan for him to join my train. That's how we see it, but of course, he remains a world-class rider. He himself says he's happy to do it in the flat stages," says Groenewegen contentedly, whose new teammate Ewan in the Giro will mainly have Walscheid and Campbell Stewart for support.