Groenewegen shines in Tour de France, breaking 24-year Dutch dry spell

Dylan Groenewegen, the Dutchman from Jayco AlUla, knew where to get the "mustard" on Thursday in the sixth stage of the Tour de France, which he won, staying ahead of his major rival Jasper Philipsen—who was eventually relegated—in a royal sprint. Afterward, there was, of course, satisfaction for the sprint dynamo from Amsterdam.

With this, Groenewegen became the first Dutch champion to win a stage in the Tour de France since 2000, when Leon van Bon managed to win a stage. "This is very beautiful. I said beforehand that it would be a very nice photo, but now it was a photo finish. I think it was a very beautiful sprint, with me on the left and Philipsen on the right," Groenewegen said very satisfied in the flash interview.

"Super cool. That jersey was already so incredibly cool, and then to win a Tour stage in the red, white, and blue... that's beautiful for the Netherlands, but also incredibly beautiful for me," he continues. "The team has worked so hard, even the last few days. On Wednesday, I was very angry with myself, but now we did it very well again. We chose the right moment, and I went with it. What exactly happened after that, I don't know. But I did win, and that's a big relief."

A photo finish had to decide. "It's hard to wait. You hope that you have won, and you feel it a bit, but you don't want to spoil the joy. So when the call came, it was really enjoyable," said Groenewegen, who couldn't stop smiling. "I'm so happy. You build up the pressure and when you succeed, it's really nice in cycling. You have to do everything right if you want to win, and now it all just came together."

In the end, the winner is always right, which holds for Groenewegen and his new aerodynamic glasses. "They might look a bit funny, but everyone is pushing the limits and gaining speed wherever possible. Every little bit helps," he concludes, clearly satisfied.

Such satisfied remarks were also heard at the press conference afterward, which was attended by IDLProCycling.com. "I'm glad that I could finally really sprint, since I got boxed in during the first two sprints," the powerhouse emphasized again. "In Wednesday's sprint, I didn't feel so good, which really knocks your confidence. I don't know what caused it, but I'm mostly just happy that it worked out this time!"

"The team brought me forward perfectly, after which I think I launched my sprint at just the right moment," Groenewegen further clarified about his victory. "It gives you a huge boost of confidence when you realize that the speed is still there." For Groenewegen, it had been two years since his last stage victory in a grand tour, so this triumph feels particularly sweet. "Especially winning in the Tour feels good because it's the biggest event in cycling. It remains the biggest race. You have to seize every opportunity that presents itself. And now I've managed to do that."

Earlier in La Grande Boucle, we spoke with Jayco-AlUla team director Mathew Hayman about the yet-to-be-achieved stage win for the Dutch powerhouse, Dylan Groenewegen. Reflecting now, his observations on the sprinter’s mental resilience are particularly insightful. "The first Tour sprint is always hectic, and this year was no exception. Missing out on a stage win with Dylan really felt like a lost opportunity. Being beaten because you’re not fast enough is something you can come to terms with quickly. But losing for other reasons can gnaw at a team's morale. This time, Dylan ended up being boxed in," conceded the 2016 Paris-Roubaix winner.

"It’s always disappointing when you perfectly position your sprinter 200 meters from the finish, and it only sort of works out," the Aussie lamented about the less successful sprints so far. "That was a real letdown. While I can’t say for certain that Dylan was the fastest, he definitely felt strong, and that’s something we can work with. He’s in great shape."

Hayman didn’t make any extravagant predictions. The 46-year-old from Oceania, who also shared his thoughts about Simon Yates, was confident about Groenewegen’s prospects. "There are several sprint opportunities in the first week, and we’re eager to take them on. The second week also looks promising, although the third stage will be a different story. We don’t want to miss any chances," he stated, full of ambition and hope. "We need to stay vigilant. The sport is demanding, and the goal is to make an impact as soon as you can. Hit the ground running, as they say. That builds confidence. Before you know it, the race is over. Catching the day's breakaway later in the Tour, for example, becomes much more challenging. History has shown us that." The first win is already safely secured!