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Australian Sprinter Surprises by Conquering Challenging 14th Stage
Kaden Groves, the Australian sprinter riding for Alpecin-Deceuninck, pulled off an unexpected victory in the 14th stage of the Vuelta a España on Saturday. The stage, which covered 200.5 kilometers from Villafranca del Bierzo to Villablino, featured a daunting first-category climb just 15 kilometers from the finish, making Groves’ win all the more remarkable.
Groves managed to outpace Belgium’s Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) in a sprint finish, denying the Belgian his fourth stage win in this year’s Vuelta. Despite the challenging terrain, which included a 23-kilometer climb, Groves remained in contention thanks to a well-executed race strategy by his team.
Tactical Mastery Leads to Victory
The key to Groves’ success was the control exerted by Van Aert’s Visma-Lease a Bike team throughout the stage. They kept a tight grip on the race, neutralizing the day’s breakaway and maintaining a steady pace on the final climb, which discouraged attacks from the peloton. This allowed Groves to conserve energy and stay with the lead group.
“I felt really good today,” Groves said after the race. “I didn’t expect to be in a sprint finish on such a tough stage, but Visma controlled the race, preventing any major breakaways, which gave me a chance to fight for the win.”
Groves praised his teammates for their support, particularly in the closing kilometers. “On the climb, I thought it would be hard to stay with the leaders if there were attacks, but thankfully, that didn’t happen,” he added. “My teammates also managed to survive the climb, and we took control in the final stretch. It was a war of attrition against Wout [van Aert], but I still had enough energy to win.”
This victory marks Groves’ sixth stage win in the Vuelta across three years, further establishing him as a formidable sprinter in the Grand Tours.
Van Aert’s Frustration
For Van Aert, the day ended in disappointment despite his team’s efforts to set up a winning scenario. The Belgian, who was aiming for his fourth stage victory and to strengthen his lead in the points classification, was visibly frustrated after the race.
“I’m disappointed, of course, especially after the great work my team did throughout the stage,” Van Aert said. “We controlled the race well, but I couldn’t finish the job. Losing this victory is a tough pill to swallow.”
Van Aert revealed that he experienced cramps in the final sprint, which hindered his performance. “I was confident I could deliver my best sprint and win, but in the last 250 meters, I felt cramps. Kaden [Groves] was just a bit stronger today.”
General Classification Remains Unchanged
Despite the high stakes of the stage, there were no significant changes in the overall standings. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R) retained the red jersey, maintaining his 1-minute and 21-second lead over Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora). Roglič faced a minor setback due to a mechanical issue during the final descent, losing 25 seconds to the peloton at one point, but he managed to regain contact and finish with the main group.
As the Vuelta heads into its final stages, the competition for both stage victories and the overall title remains fierce, with Groves’ victory adding another layer of excitement to the race.