Team Jayco AlUla wrapped up an AlUla Tour filled with close calls and near misses as Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to another second-place finish on the final stage.
The result made it three second places for the team following the Dutchman’s runner-up finish on stage three and Alan Hatherly’s strong second place ride behind overall winner Tom Pidcock on stage four.
Hatherly went into the last stage third on the general classification, but a chaotic day in the crosswinds ultimately cost the South African a spot on the final podium. Despite missing out a rostrum finish, the world mountain bike champion displayed his undoubted talents in his debut outing for the team, giving both the 28-year-old and the squad confidence he has a bright future on the roads
Meanwhile Groenewegen was able to negotiate the tricky conditions in desert winds to make the front group and put himself in contention for the stage win on the flat and fast AlUla Camel Cup Track.
After being guided into the final by his Team Jayco AlUla teammates, the 31-year-old found himself squeezed as riders battled for position on the wide, open track. Groenewegen then opened up his sprint, but despite coming at speed, it wasn’t enough to overhaul Matteo Moschetti before the finish line.
Dylan Groenewegen
“It was a hard day, but we knew that it would be because of the wind, there were some really open parts in the desert. So it made it a really nice day for racing, but also really hard.
The first echelon we missed a little bit, but after that in the final I think we were really sharp. In the final the boys did really well and kept me out of the wind, they did a really good job.
Maybe with 300 to go I was a bit squeezed in and in the end, I was a little bit too late, I came with speed, but Moschetti had really good timing and that was necessary today. It’s two times second for me, we came for the victory, but it is what it is.”
2025 AlUla Tour – Stage 5 Results:
1. Matteo Moschetti 3:32:00
2. Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) ST
3. Juan Sebastián Molano ST
Photo: Sprint Cycling
