{"id":193929,"date":"2023-09-14T10:25:26","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T10:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=193929"},"modified":"2023-09-14T10:25:26","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T10:25:26","slug":"groves-on-the-verge-of-skoda-green-jersey-triumph-in-vuelta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2023\/09\/14\/groves-on-the-verge-of-skoda-green-jersey-triumph-in-vuelta\/","title":{"rendered":"Groves on the Verge of\u00a0 \u0160koda Green Jersey Triumph in Vuelta"},"content":{"rendered":"

It may be strange to say that in a week that featured not a single bunch sprint in this year\u2019s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, there was still considerable drama around the contest for the \u0160koda Green Jersey. But there is always drama in a race in which the defending Vuelta champ Remco Evenepoel is participating \u2013 and often in the most unexpected places.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Australian sprinter Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceunick) appeared to have the points classification sewn up at the start of the final week, as he had a commanding lead over all his rivals and there were only two possible bunch sprints remaining, stage 19 and Sunday\u2019s final stage. But then something unexpected happened: Evenepoel cracked early on stage 13 and lost more than 27 minutes in the GC, ending any hope he had of winning the red jersey a second year in a row. The next day, after redeeming himself with a remarkable stage win, he said that his focus would now be on winning more stages and taking the King of the Mountain jersey. He did not mention going after the \u0160koda Green Jersey as well.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, as he continuously took part in breakaways, he inevitably also accumulated points, to the point where commentators were suggesting that the young and very ambitious Belgian might just snap up the green jersey as it seemed ripe for the taking. This prompted a reaction by Groves who started becoming more interested in finding points in intermediate sprints. But he should not have worried. True to his word, Evenepoel<\/a> spurned taking maximum points on intermediate sprints when he had the chance as if to underscore his stated intentions.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old Groves passed perhaps his stiffest test on Wednesday\u2019s stage 17 when he finished 125th in the most difficult stage in the race and survived one of the hardest climbs in all of road racing,the Angliru (12.4 km @ 9.8%), and now stands on the cusp, barring accident or illness, of becoming the first Australian to win the \u0160koda Green Jersey in the Vuelta. That\u2019s quite an accomplishment, especially in a race that has historically not favoured sprinters. Still, Groves remains wary of Evenepoel.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\ude0d\u00a1Aqu\u00ed ten\u00e9is las mejores fotos de la etapa 17!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf8 A selection of the best photos from stage 17!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf2 M\u00e1s fotos \/ More photos on https:\/\/t.co\/rCn67bhhG6<\/a>#LaVuelta23<\/a> – \ud83d\udcf8 @cxcling<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/urJyq8OroR<\/a><\/p>\n

— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 13, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n