Dylan Groenewegen will ride for Unibet Tietema Rockets, the cycling team of YouTuber Bas Tietema, next year. The 32-year-old sprinter is transferring from the Australian team Team Jayco AlUla and is signing a two-year contract with the Dutch team.
Groenewegen’s move to Unibet Tietema Rockets had been in the works for some time. On Monday, the team posted a video on social media, in which Groenewegen’s face could be recognized. The Amsterdam native had been under contract with Jayco AlUla since 2022.
“The arrival of Dylan is a major step forward for our project,” says team owner Bas Tietema in the press release. “With this, we are showing that we are very serious in our ambition to take the team to a higher level.”
Groenewegen is currently having a disappointing season. The sprinter was not a factor in the Tour de France, in which he has won six stages in the past. His best finish was thirteenth place. He has recorded three victories this year, two of which were in the Tour of Slovenia.
With his move to Unibet Tietema Rockets, Groenewegen is not assured of participation in the Tour de France. Tietema’s team competes in the Pro Tour and must secure a wildcard from Tour organizer ASO. This year, preference was given to other teams.
In addition to Groenewegen, Elmar Reinders will also ride for Unibet Tietema Rockets next year. The 33-year-old rider has signed a two-year contract with the Dutch team. Reinders and Groenewegen were also teammates at Jayco AlUla and rode the last three Tour editions together.
Tietema founded his own cycling team in 2023. The former professional cyclist became known for cycling videos on YouTube, in which he carried out assignments from viewers. After the tightening of gambling regulations in the Netherlands, his team has been riding under a French license since last year.