In a landmark move for one of cycling’s most ambitious
rising teams, the Unibet Tietema Rockets have announced the signings of Dylan
Groenewegen and Elmar Reinders from Team Jayco AlUla. The capture of
Groenewegen, a former Dutch national champion and six-time Tour de France stage
winner, marks the most significant transfer in the ProTeam’s short history.
“Dylan’s arrival is a major step forward for our project,”
team owner Bas Tietema said. “This shows that we are very serious about taking
the team to the next level.” The Dutch sprinter’s decision to join a
second-division squad is a bold one, but the intent is clear: Unibet Tietema
Rockets are aiming for the WorldTour, and eventually, the Tour de France.
Founded in 2023 under a Dutch license, the team is now
registered in France, but its identity remains deeply tied to Dutch cycling.
The arrival of Groenewegen, still one of the fastest finishers in the sport at
32, signals their intent to make the leap. “It’s not that we just wanted to
sign a big name,” Tietema explained. “But Dylan understood our vision and
wanted to be part of this project. His hunger to win, combined with his belief
in our vision, makes him the right man in the right place.”
Groenewegen won a stage at the 2024 Tour de France, proving
he still has the legs to compete against the best in the world. Joining him is
Elmar Reinders, a reliable lead-out and classics man who adds depth and
experience to the squad. With this duo, Tietema sees a team not just capable of
winning stages in high-level races, but of holding its own in Grand Tours and
breaking into the WorldTour scene.
“With Elmar on board, we have a strong group to become
competitive in Grand Tours and at the WorldTour level,” said Tietema.