Dylan Groenewegen ready for new chapter with Unibet Tietema Rockets

Dylan Groenewegen has officially closed the Jayco AlUla chapter of his career. Although his contract runs until January 1, the Dutch sprinter has already shifted his focus toward his next adventure with Unibet Tietema Rockets.

“I was supposed to race Münsterland, but I got an ear infection and had to end my season earlier than expected,” Groenewegen told In de Leiderstrui. “Those last few months are always a bit tricky for riders switching teams. You’re still under contract with your current team but already busy with the new one — medical checks, team-building, and then a training camp in December. The usual things.”

The sprinter doesn’t seem bothered by the early end to his season. “On the one hand, it was a shame to stop earlier, but it was only one race. I started the season early, so it’s not too bad that it finished a bit early too.”

Groenewegen began his 2025 campaign at the AlUla Tour and collected three victories during the year, one in Hungary and two in Slovenia.

After the season, he took a break with his family in Curaçao, just as the Tour of Holland was taking place. Even on holiday, Groenewegen kept a close eye on his future team. “There’s a six-hour time difference with Curaçao, so the finishes often coincided with lunch or when I was playing with my little one. But I followed the results, and the guys did really well,” he said.

That performance is exactly what Groenewegen hopes to see again next season. “The way they raced there is how it should be and how we want to approach things next year. We want to win sprints, and that means taking the initiative, just like Lukas Kubis did almost every week this season. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Groenewegen also welcomed the news of a new sponsor, ROSE Bikes, joining the team. “It sounds good, right? Unibet ROSE Rockets has a nice ring to it,” he joked. “It’s a big, family-run company that’s been around for a long time. They’re looking to the future and want to keep improving their products. That’s something the Rockets want too, so it fits perfectly.”

The Dutch sprinter has already had a glimpse of the new ROSE bike. “Of course I’ve seen it behind the scenes. That’s one of the first things you want to check when you sign somewhere new,” he said. “They’ve worked really hard on it, and it’s a beautiful bike. You’ll see it next year.”

As for the Tour de France, Groenewegen remains hopeful but realistic. “That’s not up to us. When I look at the team, I think we’re ready for it. It would be a huge honor, and I really hope we can be there. But all we can do is hope for a chance to ride the biggest race of the year.”

That ambition aligns perfectly with the vision that team owner Bas Tietema shared in The Domestique Hotseat podcast. “Dylan isn’t here for a paycheck. He wants to leave a legacy,” Tietema said. 

It’s a line that captures both Groenewegen’s hunger and the Rockets’ belief that success isn’t only measured in results, but in the story they’re building together.