Simply 24 hours after he inherited the Vuelta a España factors classification lead when Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) crashed out, Australian sprinter Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) boosted his benefit in that classification to the utmost by netting his third stage win of the 2024 race.
For Groves and the opposite quick males within the 2024 Vuelta a España, there have been no extra dash phases on provide after Wednesday’s hilly, waterlogged run to Santander. There was a definite air of now-or-never because the rain teemed down within the northern area of Cantabria and a four-man break did their utmost to outwit the peloton.
Lastly caught virtually nearby of the end line within the coastal metropolis of Santander, Groves then shortly lived as much as his standing as an awesome dash favorite to spherical out a Vuelta a España the place he had already gained on the very first alternative on stage 2 in Ourem and one other triumph within the final chance-saloon in Santander on stage 17.
The ultimate problem for Groves within the 2024 Vuelta is one thing of an surprising one – to make it to Madrid in inexperienced. The Australian inherited the factors lead after Van Aert crashed out on Tuesday, however as he instructed reporters on Wednesday, whereas by no means wishing that form of fortune on his arch-rival, “daily there must be a winner and daily any person has to put on the jerseys”.
“I heard he’d deserted and it was an odd scenario to inherit the factors classification,” the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider mentioned. “However fortunately he had no fractures and I want him a fast restoration.
“Remaining second within the factors classification was a objective for me in case something occurred – he may have gotten sick and withdrawn. So I took inexperienced however that’s skilled sport, daily there must be a winner and daily any person has to put on the jerseys.”
Requested if he wanted a win to make him really feel the inexperienced jersey was rightfully his, Groves replied, “I suppose it helps, for certain. It was my final alternative right here at this yr’s race, I had a brilliant motivated group, they did so effectively to manage the break initially and ensure the composition of the break was appropriate. To repay them with win quantity three is fairly particular.”
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Aside from equalling Van Aert’s rating of three stage victories – probably the most of any rider within the 2024 Vuelta – Groves has now taken at least seven Grand Tour stage wins in his profession.
Equally spectacular this summer time, he has gained a stage in every of the three weeks within the 2024 Vuelta – on stage 2, stage 14 and stage 17 – and every in barely totally different terrain, too. Ourem in Portugal on stage 2 was an uphill, technical drag, stage 14 in Villablino got here instantly after a really lengthy, grinding class 1 climb and quick drop to the end, and stage 17 got here after two powerful class 2 ascents early on, then a quick, rainsoaked descent to the coast at Santander.
Because of that versatility, consistency and pure pace, Groves has stacked up increasingly factors for the inexperienced jersey. His present 222-point whole, in comparison with 106 for closest rival Pavel Bittner (DSM-firmenich-PostNL), places him in a powerful place to repeat his 2023 victory in the identical classification.
“Immediately was all for the stage victory after which tomorrow [Thursday] I’ll be working to see if I can assist a teammate like Xandro [Meurisse] or Quinten [Hermans] to get within the break,” he mentioned.
“After that it’s all about survival, doing the naked minimal and simply getting by. I’ve really been fortunate as a result of stage 19 is an effective day for the gruppetto and a lot of the hardest days are behind us. Then for me, personally, stage 20 would be the final ‘struggle and survival’ day of the 2024 race.”
Although the inexperienced was far out of attain earlier than Van Aert deserted, Groves had at all times mentioned that there had by no means been any query of his quitting after the cut-and-dried dash phases within the first two weeks of the 2024 Vuelta – his finest alternatives to win – had been accomplished.
“I’d at all times stored a watch on in the present day and tomorrow to assist the group,” he defined. “And when there are phases this late within the race once we can obtain one thing, for certain it’s a objective to get by to the top and end the season off effectively with the final races of the yr, too,” he defined.
“After this, I will not be completed for 2024. I’ll be doing the Italian one-day races, as a result of they go well with me with their lowered bunch sprints and extra aggressive racing.”
Whereas Groves appears to be like to be by far the strongest candidate for inexperienced in Madrid, the battle for pink, at the moment held by one other Australian, stays way more undecided. Nevertheless, Groves believes that the definitive GC shall be all however established earlier than the ultimate weekend of racing.
“I’m unsure who’ll win however I feel we’ll know after stage 19,” he mentioned.
“As there’s a TT in Madrid I’m going to say Primož Roglič [will win]. However as an Australian, I hope my fellow Aussie Ben-O [Ben O’Connor, current race leader – Ed.] can stand on the rostrum too.”
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