Groves triumphs in Spanish Vuelta stage as O’Connor leads overall

On Wednesday, Kaden Groves achieved his third stage victory in the ongoing Spanish Vuelta, marking his seventh career win in the event. The stage covered 141.5 kilometers from Arnuero to Santander, concluding with a challenging sprint on a wet finish. Groves noted the dangers posed by the rain, emphasizing the team's motivation to control the race and secure the win. He previously won the second and fourteenth stages of this year's edition. Ben O'Connor, another Australian cyclist, maintained his overall lead in the general classification, finishing alongside Primoz Roglic. The gap between O'Connor and Roglic remained at five seconds, as they both navigated the wet conditions without significant issues. O'Connor described the stage as somewhat treacherous but manageable, highlighting the need for proactive break management in the upcoming stages. The race faced a setback earlier in the day when Wout van Aert, a prominent Belgian cyclist, withdrew due to a severe knee injury sustained in a crash during a descent. Van Aert, who was wearing the green jersey as the top sprinter and leading the mountains standings, was forced to seek intensive care following the incident. His withdrawal is a significant loss for his team and the competition. Looking ahead, stage 18 promises to be a challenging mid-mountain ride, spanning 179.5 kilometers with a category-one climb. This stage could potentially eliminate sprinters from the peloton, adding further complexity to the race dynamics as it approaches the decisive weekend finish in Madrid.