“The ultimate goal is a Grand Tour stage” – Dylan Groenewegen builds towards Unibet ROSE Rockets’ Giro d’Italia debut with Koksijde win

Dylan Groenewegen has made clear where his focus lies this season, with the Dutch sprinter outlining his ambitions ahead of Unibet ROSE Rockets’ first-ever Grand Tour appearance at the Giro d’Italia following his victory at the Bredene Koksijde Classic 2026.

“I am here with this team to win. We have a new vibe, new motivation, and a group that wants to grow,” Groenewegen said after the finish. “The ultimate goal is a Grand Tour stage.”

That broader objective framed a win that, on the surface, came down to a familiar sprint finish on the Belgian coast.

The race had briefly threatened to open up across the Baneberg and Kemmelberg, but those moves faded, and with no crosswind disruption in De Moeren, the peloton reset for a high-speed run into Koksijde.

Despite the controlled finale, the race itself had been far from straightforward. “It was not an easy day. Especially around the hill zone, it was a fight for position. But as a team, we did that really well,” Groenewegen explained.

By the time the final breakaway was caught inside the last kilometre, the responsibility shifted entirely to execution. Unibet ROSE Rockets delivered a clean lead-out, guiding their sprinter into position for the decisive moment. “In the finale, everyone was tired, but they did a perfect lead-out. They brought me into a very good position,” he said. “Elmar brought the speed in well towards the last corner. Then it was about waiting for the moment to go, and it turned out to be the right moment.”

That timing was shaped by experience. “Two years ago, I lost here to Luca Mozzato because I started too early. That’s why I chose 200 metres. I hit the front at exactly the right moment.”

From there, Groenewegen committed fully, launching a long sprint and holding his advantage all the way to the line. “It was a fair sprint. I was the fastest today.”

The victory adds momentum at a key moment in the season, but as Groenewegen made clear, it is not the end goal. With a Giro d’Italia debut on the horizon for his team, performances like this are part of a bigger build.

And if Koksijde showed anything, it is that both the speed and the structure are already in place.