Good signs for Dylan Groenewegen as he takes first win in the new team

In a gruelling desert stage that had few riders smilling at the end of the day, Dylan Groenewegen is one of the few riders who will have some good sleep tonight after taking his first win of the season.

After a rough couple of seasons Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen made the switch from Grand Tour-oriented Jumbo-Visma into Team BikeExchange in what was an unexpected and late move in the transfer market. With the rise of Wout van Aert and with ever-growing ambitions in the Grand Tours, Groenewegen was left in a complicated situation where he was not secure of a spot in a three-week race, and no longer had the power to have a team surrounding him in some of the main races.

In his new team he found a structure willing to give him more support, but also putting more responsability on his shoulders, hence it was disapointing when he failed to contest the sprint in the opening day. However their luck has changed tides today.

"It’s really amazing to win in my first race. We tried something on the first day but it didn’t work well but everybody is really strong so today we made a new plan for today. The finish was really hard but in the end, everyone was there in the small group, we did a really good lead-out and I only sprinted for 100 meters so thanks to the team and it is incredible that I can give them the win for their help today," the Dutch sprinter concluded.

"It was a really crazy stage but the guys put me in a really good position in the front and also Luka Mezgec was there, but then with the headwind everything came back but that was good for us to have everyone there in the final. We made a really good plan and the tactic was amazing and everybody did a really good job. It’s only the second sprint for me this year, but it feels like we are already working together for two years. For moral it is really nice if you can win in the first race. We were a little bit angry after the first day but we also learnt a lot so it was also a good day. Today it is really amazing and good for moral to take the victory in the first race, it is good for the team and for me.”  

Groenewegen will have two more chances to take a win, but will meet a worthy rival in Caleb Ewan who has so far seemed the fastest man in the race by far. However, speed isn't everything, as we have seen today.