"We’re ready – I really hope it happens": Dylan Groenewegen targets Tour de France return alongside Wout Poels for Unibet ROSE Rockets
Cycling
Dylan Groenewegen says he’s “ready” to make a return to the Tour de France as he prepares for a new chapter with the Unibet ROSE Rockets in 2026 — and hopes the team’s growing strength, bolstered by the signing of veteran Wout Poels, will earn them a place on cycling’s biggest stage.
Speaking to In de Leiderstrui, the six-time Tour stage winner reflected on his move from Team Jayco AlUla, a four-year stint he brought to an early close after an ear infection ended his 2025 campaign. Despite still being under contract until January, his attention is already fixed on the Dutch outfit he’ll spearhead next season.
“It would be a huge honour”
“The Tour isn’t in our hands,” Groenewegen admitted. “But looking at the team, I think we’re ready. It would be a huge honour, and I really hope it happens — but all we can do for now is hope for a place in the biggest race of the year.”
The Amsterdam-born sprinter will form part of an ambitious project under Bas Tietema’s Rockets setup, now rebranded as Unibet ROSE Rockets following a new sponsorship deal with the German bike manufacturer. Groenewegen was quick to praise both the partnership and the team’s recent development.
“It sounds great, doesn’t it? Unibet ROSE Rockets — I like the sound of that,” he said. “ROSE is a big, family-run company that’s been around for a long time. They’re focused on improving their products, and that’s something the Rockets want too. Behind the scenes, I’ve already seen the new bike — it’s a beautiful one, and people will see it for themselves next year.”
Groenewegen has 6 Tour de France stage wins under his belt
Ready to “take the initiative”
Groenewegen also drew encouragement from how his future teammates raced this autumn, particularly during the Tour of Holland. “The way they raced there is exactly how we want to race next season,” he said. “We want to win sprints, and that means taking the initiative — just like Lukas Kubis did almost every week. I’m really looking forward to it.”
After a year that brought him three victories — one in Hungary and two in Slovenia — the 32-year-old believes the new environment will help him rediscover his best form. “It was a pity to finish my season early, but I started early too, so it balanced out. These last few months are always tricky when you’re between teams, but I’m excited to start this next chapter.”
For Groenewegen, who last won a Tour de France stage in 2024, the mission is simple: to return to the world’s biggest race in new colours — and win again.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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