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Groenewegen appeared emotional on Sunday but,speaking post-race,maintained his composure after he successfully navigated what was a technical finish,with tight and wide turns,left and right,to firmly put the past behind him.
“Not physically but mentally it was a hard time,of course. This is for my wife and my son,” he said.
“I want to say thanks to my team,my family and my friends to bring me back to the Tour in good shape.”
Groenewegen joined BikeExchange-Jayco this year in what was a fresh start following a long tenure at Dutch squad Jumbo-Visma.
Sprinters are often likened to brash boxer stereotypes but Groenewegen is typically a man of fewer,soft-spoken words with the press and has let his legs do the talking since his return to competition in May 2021,claiming nine victories.
Speaking before the start of the Tour,BikeExchange-Jayco sports director Matt White was confident his star signing would perform in his return to the race following a two-year hiatus and despite the mental and emotional challenges he’s faced.
“Anyone would be lying to say you forget about things that happen like that in your career,” White said.
“It was an accident and,in my opinion,he was judged pretty harshly over it really. But at the end of the day,you’ve got to move on.”
However, Cyclingnews reported Jakobsen did not congratulate his rival after the bunch sprint finish in Sonderborg,where he placed fifth.
“He shows that he’s a good sprinter,” Jakobsen said post-race.
“I have to say that before the crash I admired his palmares[CV] and I kind of looked up to him a bit. But now that is completely gone after the crash because of the mistake he made. I think that’s normal.”
The win was a coup as much for Groenewegen as it was BikeExchange-Jayco,who under a newly introduced promotion/relegation system are facing the possibility of relegation at year’s end.
The squad had a winless 2021 Tour campaign,but Melbourne backer Gerry Ryan,speaking after Groenewegen’s victory,was confident of more success at the 109th edition.
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“It’s planning persistence and having the right people and the right team,” Ryan said.
“I’m sure there’s going to be more during the Tour. Persistence paid off today and we won.”
Groenewegen was held up in a crash that reduced the field with about 10.5 kilometres remaining but did not appear to deter any of the other main stage favourites or title contenders.
The Tour will now move from Denmark to France,with racing to resume on Tuesday with stage four from Dunkirk.