Bailey Groenendaal isn’t the first Dutch rider with talent to slip under the radar, but he might be one of the few who could soon be racing in a Danish champion’s jersey. The 22-year-old from Schijndel officially switched sporting nationality this season, telling WielerFlits that the decision “felt right for my future.”
The flying Dutch, erm, Danish man
His dual identity is because his mother is Danish, born in Sorø, and moved to the Netherlands after meeting his father in BMX. “I’ve had a Danish passport since birth,” he said, adding that he grew up bilingual and still speaks the language fluently.
Though not yet a prolific winner, Groenendaal has long been one of the more reliable riders in his age bracket. He also has a pretty great last name for a ‘cross rider. Although there’s no relation, Richard Groenendaal was one of the stars of the ‘90s (and also Dutch.)
The pros of riding with Denmark
This Groenendaal (as in Bailey) rode multiple world and European championships in Dutch colors. He also finished second behind Tibor Del Grosso at the 2024 Dutch under-23 championships. Yet the path to elite opportunities in the Netherlands is notoriously narrow. Denmark, on the other hand, offers him clarity. With the switch, he immediately secured World Cup starts, finishing 25th in Tábor and 24th in Flamanville. “It wasn’t about escaping selection pressure,” he said, “but about having a structure that fits me.”
Cyclocross culture is smaller in Denmark than Holland, but that challenge appeals to him. It’s not quite like say, an Italian-Canadian trying to play for Italy in hockey at the Olympics. The country has had several riders excel in the discipline, including multiple world champion Henrik Djernis. (They also have a few road and MTB stars that have done pretty, pretty good. )
Jonas Vingegaard is now a Hansen and I for one, very much approve
But as he told WielerFlits, the move is partially about “helping the sport grow” there, hoping his presence might encourage the federation to invest more and make it easier for future riders to travel to races. For now, he continues training in the Netherlands and races without a pro team, supported mostly by private sponsors—and his parents.
UCI rules prevent him from riding this season’s European or world championships for Denmark, but the Danish national title on Jan. 11 is both permitted and firmly on his radar. He’s cautious about predicting the outcome, noting…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…