One year after taking his first pro win at the race, Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) lived up to his status as the big favourite by taking a dominant victory at the Arnhem-Veenendal Classic. The local hero got the perfect lead out and easily distanced Chris Opie (ONE) and Kenny Dehaes (Wanty) in expected bunch sprint to take his 8th win in an impressive first year on the WorldTour.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Dylan Groenewegen: To win in this way is beautiful

Dylan Groenewegen, profiting from a strong LottoNL-Jumbo lead-out, grabbed his eighth victory of the season today by sprinting ahead in the Arnhem-Veenendaal Classic.

“I saw a very strong team today and Dylan Groenewegen delivered a phenominal final kick,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman said. “Our race was based on the aim to put Dylan in the right position, but we had to carry the race, as well. We wanted to mark every group of riders that escaped and we succeeded a few times. We were able to control the race eventually with Twan Castelijns and got some support from other teams. 

"In the final part of the race, the road was broad and we had a lot of space. We worked on our timing a lot, this season and today, it went well. We came through the final turn as first and second and when Dylan is in shape like this, not many riders are able to beat him in that position.”

Dylan Groenewegen was very laudatory about his team-mates.

“I was led out very well,” he added. “That’s why I was able to finish with this difference and that gives me a lot of confidence. A bunch sprint is always chaotic, but the timing was perfect, today. It felt good that we were able to take the lead in the final kilometre. Robert Wagner came through the final turn in first position.”

“This was my eighth victory of the season,” Groenewegen continued. “That’s a great feeling. Especially when you win in a way like this, with such a strong team around me. Winning is the most beautiful thing. It went well with our sprint team.”

Christian Meier on the attack, Mitchell Docker gets rare chance to sprint

Canadian Christian Meier was one of the protagonists of the day’s breakaway at the Arnhem-Veenendaal Classic today winning the mountains classification forORICA-BikeExchange with teammate Mitch Docker talking fourth place in the sprint.

Meier was part of a move that went away within the first hour of racing, gaining over four minutes on the peloton and staying clear for around 130kilometres.

The escape was caught with less than 20kilometres to go and the field duly sped towards the sprint. The race was won by Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) with Docker fighting hard for OBE and finishing in fourth place.

Sport director Dave McPartland was content with the team’s performance.

“It was a very fast start to the race,” said McPartland. “We were right at the front for much of the first hour with Amets Txurruka before Christian (Meier) got into the breakaway and thing settled down.

“Christian rode well and its nice for him to have animated the race and take the KOM points jersey to have something to show for his efforts.

“The whole team rode very well and it was very pleasing to see Mitch (Docker) have a good hit out for himself in the sprint and in the end he came very close to the podium against top quality sprinters.

“We can take lots of positives from today’s race and hopefully carry them into Cyclassics Hamburg on Sunday.”

Frustration for Bary Markus in home classic

A year ago, Dylan Groenewegen got his breakthrough as a pro in the Roompot jersey by winning Arnhem-Veenendaal Classic. This year his cousin Barry Markus was the first man from the team of Jean-Paul van Poppel.

Brian Van Goethem tried in the last ten kilometers to avoid the expected mass sprint. His attack with Jasper Ockeloen ended three kilometers from the finish. Barry Markus finished 8th, but was not satisfied:

"I should have been front in the last corner. My goal was to start the sprint in the wheel of Dylan, but there were a dozen or so that wanted the same, "Markus told about his final sprint. "My speed was okay, because I passed quite a few riders. But unfortunately the places of honor were too far away.”