In the history of Australian cycling, only a few dozen cyclists have won a grand tour stage. It is a mark of distinction, beating the best in the world at one of the three races that stand out on the annual calendar: the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. Fewer still have won stages at multiple grand tours, or at the same grand tour across multiple years. Those honours belong to some of the greats of the sport in Australia: the likes of Phil Anderson, Robbie McEwen, Cadel Evans, Richie Porte and Michael Matthews.
Kaden Groves is not, for now, in that pantheon. But this week, the 24-year-old became the first Australian to win back-to-back stages at a world tour, out-sprinting the peloton on stages four and five at the Vuelta in Spain. It builds on his debut grand tour stage win at the Vuelta last year, and his Giro stage crown in Italy earlier this year.
