Mature Groenewegen confirms new team for 2026 and targets yellow in the Tour de France: "I can still get pissed off"

Rumors about Groenewegen’s departure from Jayco–AlUla had been circulating for a while and are now confirmed by the Dutch sprinting powerhouse. He says a deal is in place for the coming years, but: “That will probably be with another team, though I can’t say anything yet. That has to stay between me and the team, but I’m really looking forward to the next challenge,” Groenewegen said.

That means this July’s Tour de France will be his final big mission during his four-year stint with the Australian squad. July 5, 2025, is circled in red on his calendar, as sprinters are expected to have a shot at the yellow jersey on the opening day in Lille. “As a sprinter, you don’t get that chance very often, the last time was six years ago. I crashed then, though Mike Teunissen ended up winning, so it was still a great day for us as a team. I hope this time it’ll work out for me, we’re doing everything we can to make it happen.”

Read more below the photo.

"I'm definitely good enough to win in the Tour, otherwise I wouldn’t be going," says Groenewegen, who is back in form after a tough spring. "I’m doing well. I missed part of the spring due to a concussion and a nasty crash in Tirreno-Adriatico. After that, it was race after race, which doesn’t really make you better. But in April I spent all my time in Spain, and in the most recent races where I’ve sprinted, I’ve won."

“It’s going in the right direction again,” is his clear conclusion after two stage wins in the Tour of Slovenia and one in the Tour of Hungary. He’s succeeding on the bike, but also feels fully mature off it. “I feel good in my own skin, with a beautiful child and a wonderful wife at home. Cycling is very important, but sometimes it comes second, because family is the most important thing. And if everything’s good at home, I’m good too.”  

Read more below the photo.

Despite being a father, the fire still burns strong, Groenewegen emphasizes. “I can still get pissed off and sit in the team bus angry for half an hour, and the guys know what that means for the next day, because then I’ll be on edge. But I can put things into perspective better now. Everything gets viewed differently when you’re on the phone with your son 20 minutes after a race. The hunger is still there though, and as long as I have that, I still love riding my bike.”