Imagine dedicating four seasons to a team, securing 21 professional victories—including two at the Tour de France—and still being let go. That’s exactly what happened to Dylan Groenewegen, the 31-year-old Dutch sprinter who recently parted ways with Jayco AlUla. But here’s where it gets controversial: was this decision a strategic masterstroke or a missed opportunity? Let’s dive in.
Groenewegen’s tenure with the Australian team was nothing short of impressive. He racked up around 4,600 UCI points during his time there, playing a pivotal role in keeping Jayco AlUla afloat during a critical three-year ranking period where they finished 16th overall. Yet, despite his contributions, the team’s manager, Brent Copeland, described the choice to let him go as straightforward. In a recent interview with Daniel Benson’s Substack, Copeland bluntly stated, ‘It made no sense to invest one to one and a half million euros in sprinters who didn’t guarantee us points.’ Ouch.
Groenewegen himself framed the situation as a ‘change of priorities,’ but the numbers tell a more nuanced story. While he delivered over 1,400 points in 2024, his tally dropped to less than half that in 2025. Even his three stage victories at the Tour de Hongrie and Tour of Slovenia couldn’t salvage what Copeland deemed a disappointing season. And this is the part most people miss: Groenewegen finished runner-up seven times this year, often just inches away from victory. Was it a lack of performance, or simply bad luck?
Instead of retaining their star sprinter, Jayco AlUla is pivoting to a new strategy—one that echoes the successful approach of XDS Astana earlier this season. The team is bringing in versatile riders like Andrea Vendrame, Amaury Capiot, Dries De Bondt, and Alessandro Covi, all of whom have the potential to score 500+ points on the right schedule. The kicker? These four riders combined will likely cost less than Groenewegen alone. Copeland emphasized, ‘We’ve decided not to invest in sprinters next year. That will save us about two to three million euros, and we’d rather focus on riders who score points in races that matter to us.’ Bold move, but will it pay off?
Meanwhile, Groenewegen has already found a new home with Unibet Rose Rockets, an ambitious ProTeam project led by former cyclist and YouTuber Bas Tietema. With high-profile recruits like Groenewegen and Wout Poels, the team is aiming to climb the ranks and compete with the likes of Cofidis and Tudor Pro Cycling. But here’s the question: Did Jayco AlUla just let go of a proven winner, or are they wisely betting on a more sustainable future?
What do you think? Is Jayco AlUla’s new strategy a stroke of genius, or have they underestimated Groenewegen’s value? Let’s debate it in the comments—I’m curious to hear your take!
