Aboard his custom-painted Propel Advanced SL equipped with a CADEX 50 Ultra WheelSystem and Aero Cotton tires, along with the CADEX Aero Integrated bar, the Team Jayco AlUla rider won the opening stage field sprint in Škofljica, and two days later he did it again in Ormož. In both wins, the 31-year-old from Amsterdam delivered the victory after strong work by his team.
On the opening 168km stage, teammate Max Walscheid put Groenewegen into perfect position after the team worked to make sure he was one of the first riders to get through the final corner. All that was left was for the Dutch national champion to unleash his powerful sprint, winning ahead of Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious).
“The best position in the final was the wheel of my teammates,” Groenewegen said. “They kept me in the front extremely well. Everyone knew that in the last left-hand bend it was very important to have a good position there. Max Walscheid made sure I could make the perfect corner, so I had an excellent starting position for the sprint.”
Groenewegen had trouble finding his leadout in the chaotic Stage 3 field sprint, but he ultimately scored the victory ahead of Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates). With the win, the Dutchman set a new record for the number of career stage wins at the Tour of Slovenia with seven.
“On paper, today may have looked like it was definitely going to be a bunch sprint, but the finale was not that easy at all,” Groenewegen said. “The course went up and down a lot, there were plenty of narrow roads and there was also some wind. "Towards the end, the team pushed hard and did everything possible to be able to put me in contention for the bunch sprint. For that reason, we absolutely deserved this win. It was a great battle with Olano, I really had to go deep to beat him. This kind of team performance makes me feel really good.”