Groves breaks through for first 2021 win

Australian national criterium champion Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange) shrugged off a disrupted 2021 season to date to post his first victory of the year in the opening prologue of the Tour of Slovakia.

Kaden Groves, Tour of Slovakia Source: Greenedge Cycling

The 22-year-old sprinter was the last rider down the start ramp for the squad and he stormed around the short 1.6km course in Košice in a time of 1:50.46 to go fastest, a time that would just edge out defending Tour of Slovakia champion Jannik Steimle (Deceuninck-QuickStep). 

It was Groves first professional European win, the Australian having previously taken UCI wins in Asia as part of St George Continental and the Mitchelton-Scott development team, also winning stages in 2020 of the Herald Sun Tour and taking out the national criterium championships in 2020. Groves was highly touted as a versatile sprinter coming into the professional ranks, but has taken some time finding his feet in European racing.

That process has been lengthened by injury in the past year, and Groves was happy to crack a win in the opening prologue.

“It’s a big relief, it’s been a long day today waiting for my turn, I was the last to go in the team," said Groves after his win. "I just listened to the guys who had gone before, did what they said and I’m very, very happy to come away today with the win.

"The start and the corner [were the trickiest parts of the course], kicking out of the last corner you needed to save a little bit from the start just to come home strong and I did that and held on."

Groves holds only a narrow lead at the top of the standings, but the mostly flat course means that the Australian could potential win the race overall, if he can best the likes of sprinters Peter Sagan (BORA hansgrohe), Cees Bol (Team DSM) and Alvaro Hodeg (Deceuninck-QuickStep).

"The parcours suit me very well this week and we have a good team for the sprints and for sure we will defend and go for the stage tomorrow as well," said Groves.

Gene Bates, sports director for Team BikeExchange, echoed the comments of Groves, paying special tribute to the Gympie rider for his perseverance to fight to the end of a tough season.

“We are very happy with today’s result, Kaden has had a rough year for many reasons, and it makes this victory even sweeter," said Bates. "He has worked hard in this last period preparing for this race and the upcoming races, so it is a great start for the team here in Slovakia.

“We came here hunting for stage results, so already it’s a great start to the week for us.”