Dylan Groenewegen eyes more stage victories at the Tour: "Sprinting is fun. But with the likes of Pogacar, it's not easy to even finish a Grand Tour"

Wearing Dutch tricolor and his signature "inquistior" sunglasses, Dylan Groenewegen was able to take a massive victory at last year's Tour de France even in a role of an outsider. This puts his total count to 6 stages at the Tour, putting Groenewegen within a shooting distance of Dutch all-time greats Joop Zoetemelk, Jan Raas and Gerrie Knetemann who all sit on 10 triumphs. The goal for 2025 seems to be set in stone.

"The Tour de France is simply the most important for me," Groenewegen told Wieler Revue at the training camp in Altea. "It's always number one for me."

The Dutch speedster automatically looks with one eye at the opening stage in Lille. For the fast men, there is normally a chance for the first yellow jersey. "I just want to say that if it works out in the fifth stage, that's fine too. Of course, the yellow jersey would be a nice bonus, but I'll take it for granted if there are a few more stage wins and there is no yellow in between."

Read also

BREAKING | Patrick Lefevere announces departure as Soudal Quick-Step CEO 21 years after creating team

Training

In what is very likely to be dubbed the 'era of Tadej Pogacar', the life of a pure sprinter is not easy. The race are becoming increasingly rapid and every uphill section is an opportunity to blow the race to pieces. The 31-year-old Groenewegen didn't want to sleep on roses and thus swapped his coach for one would suit his "new" training style better earlier this season.

Groenewegn goes on to highlight that training to be a sprinter has become more and more of a mind sport. "Sprinting is fun, but you have to be able to get to that sprint. With Pogacar and guys like that, it's generally going faster and faster. The level just has to go up to be able to finish a grand tour as a sprinter."

"Finding a balance between your sprint and your base is a fine line. You have to balance on that. Especially for the trainer, it has become more of a mind sport. Of course I also think about it and am working on it, but I mainly leave that task to my trainer."

Read also

INTERVIEW | "He is a champion in every way" - António Morgado on Tadej Pogacar, incredible neo-pro season and Tour of Flanders' shocking Top5

INTERVIEW | Tadej Pogacar on the key to his development - "You have rituals everyday that you focus on"