Fresh from a second stage victory within the Vuelta a España, Alpecin-Deceuninck dash ace Kaden Groves has confirmed that he’ll push for a berth within the staff’s Tour de France lineup in 2025.
One key ingredient to Groves’ newest Vuelta triumph – and he now has six in his palmares – was how the Australian managed to stick with the entrance group of 60 on the dauntingly lengthy, however very regular class 1 climb of Puerto de Leitariegos. That was one thing Groves had additionally managed to do on the even tougher Alto del 14% climb on stage 7, in fact, however an premature fall simply on the summit that day then wrecked Groves’ probabilities of combating it out with Wout van Aert for the dash in Cordoba.
This time round was a really totally different story – after a quick however pretty simple descent off the Leitariegos, Groves neatly out-sprinted Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) on the stage 14 end in Villablino. It was the second time Groves had managed to beat the Belgian within the Vuelta a España after his stage 2 victory in Ourem, however as he mentioned afterwards, having the ability to win in presumably his final alternative on this 12 months’s Vuelta was a specifically good feeling.
“It’s been a really powerful week, and I had a win on stage 2 but additionally a second and a 3rd and it is good to capitalize on my type right here,” Groves instructed reporters. “It’s uncommon for me to win with remaining climbs, however I had the legs to do it.”
Being in fine condition on the climb was arguably as vital as having the situation to beat Van Aert, and as Groves put it, “I felt good there, quite a lot of it was a headwind in order that helped, plus Visma rode a strong tempo.”
“I used to be fairly frightened that if the climbers had began attacking one another, I would not have made it to the end within the entrance. But thankfully, that did not occur both.”
“Then it was a slight uphill for the dash and whereas it is at all times powerful in opposition to Wout, my staff did an important job conserving me out of the wind and giving me an important leadout, particularly Eddy Planckaert.”
“I wasn’t feeling nice as a result of I had spent a great deal of power within the break yesterday, [Friday] however the staff stored me calm and stored me in an important place all over.”
The dash itself was a decent one, Groves mentioned, however he knew he had gained as quickly as they hit the road. “I used to be feeling fairly assured I had him by half a wheel or so. Generally once you win you recognize, and Wout’s been giving me a tough time this week however now I can say we’re even.”
Groves additionally modified technique and that undoubtedly helped swing the pendulum in his favour, he mentioned. “The final instances right here I’ve been second or third within the sprints, I’ve considerably hesitated as a result of we arrived so fatigued on the line that nobody needs to guide out – one thing Wout truly does rather well. But at present I noticed the end line at 200 metres to go and I drag-raced him to the road.”
On an distinctive day for the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinters, each Groves and Jasper Philipsen gained on the identical day – Groves in Spain, Philipsen within the Renewi Tour. Following a current renewal of his contract, the Australian mentioned he hoped that subsequent 12 months he could be racing alongside his Belgian teammate within the Tour de France.
“Ideally subsequent 12 months I can race there together with Jasper,” Groves mentioned a few attainable Tour debut following one Giro d’Italia and – up to now – six Vuelta stage victories. “We’re totally different sprinters, I’m extra suited to lowered sprints, so hopefully there will be a spot for each of us within the Tour and we are able to race collectively like we now have executed so properly prior to now.”
Meanwhile, again on the 2024 Vuelta, Groves recognised he’d be on the lookout for yet one more attainable likelihood at a bunch dash on stage 17 into Santander. But on Sunday at Cuitu Negru’s crunch summit end, all eyes shall be on one other Australian, Ben O’Connor, in his newest battle to remain within the lead.
Asked instantly who was going to win the Vuelta, Groves answered “As a fellow Australian, I hope Ben-O (Ben O’Connor). But I believe that if Primoz [Roglič] is on a superb day, tomorrow [Sunday] he might take the pink.”