Kaden Groves recounts Stage 19 crash escape as he chases points title at 2023 Vuelta a Espana - 'I was super lucky'
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Updated 15/09/2023 at 17:49 GMT
Alpecin–Deceuninck rider Kaden Groves remains top of the points standing as he aims to finish the 2023 Vuelta a Espana as the champion in the classification. His nearest rival is Remco Evenepoel, who looks unlikely to be able to challenge him for the title. However there was a scare for Groves as he narrowly avoided a serious crash towards the closing moments of Stage 19.
Groves relieved to avoid injury in late crash on Stage 19 of Vuelta
Kaden Groves said he was “super lucky” to avoid a serious crash on Stage 19 of the Vuelta a Espana.
The race looked to be heading to a victory for Ineos Grenadiers rider Filippo Ganna, but he was pipped at the death by dsm-firmenich rider Alberto Dainese - as a select group fought out the finish due to an earlier crash involving points leader Groves.
A little under a mile before the finish line, there was a pile up which took down two DSM team-mates of the Italian. It almost caused Groves a serious problem, and the interruption to his race meant he finished 133rd after being clear favourite for glory at the start of the day.
Fortunately for the Australian, he explained that he was able to take evasive action, and replays suggested that he had been able to dismount from his bike and remain on his feet, avoiding a heavy tumble. Other riders appeared less fortunate, suffering scrapes and torn kits.
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Highlights from Stage 19 of Vuelta as Dainese beats Ganna in sprint finish
Speaking after the stage, the Alpecin–Deceuninck rider said: “In the end I had to stop and jump off my bike so was unable to sprint.
“Honestly I need to watch it back but I was super lucky, I was able to unclip and run off my bike almost, but unfortunately a hard crash for two DSM and my team-mate Tobias [Bayer].
“I know there was a crash, just about a kilometre behind. I was pretty close, just behind. In the end I was caught behind the crash and couldn’t sprint.”
Groves remains clear at the top of the points standings and looks almost certain to stay ahead of Remco Evenepoel in second spot.
After Stage 19 he has 245 points compared to Soudal Quick-Step rider Evenepoel’s 192. Evenepoel is top of the KOM (king of the mountains) standings, 78 points ahead of Jumbo-Visma’s Jonas Vingegaard.
Groves pointed to 17 points earned in the intermediate sprint as a positive to take from the day’s racing.
He added: “I was still second in the intermediate, I think, so that’s still 17 points. All in all, I was feeling good and my team did a really good job.”
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