“Coming back in the final will be hard with a technical circuit” – Groves excited for Giro d’Italia stage with sprinting chance

Stage 18 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia offers something rarely seen in week 3, a chance for the sprinters. The profile isn’t entirely flat, but after a brutal sequence of mountain stages and GC drama, the peloton’s fast men will be eager to take advantage of a stage that could swing their way, if the breakaway can be controlled.

Among the top contenders is Australia’s Kaden Groves, who already claimed victory earlier in the race on the streets of Naples. Speaking to Cycling Pro Net before the stage, Groves was clear about his ambitions, “Sprint or breakaway day? For us, we go for the sprint,” he said. “But I think on paper it's a breakaway day.”

Groves acknowledged the difficulty of managing the unpredictable dynamics that have characterised the third week. “Controlling the breakaway is the most important thing for us,” he explained. “We need to make sure the composition is something that suits us, where other rival sprint teams are not represented.”

The situation on the road will dictate everything, and the Alpecin man knows he needs allies. “I would hope two or three [teams help],” he said. “We obviously plan to mark Trek, Visma, and DSM in the beginning because they also have sprinters.”

But recent trends haven’t always been favouring the sprinters. Breakaways have had some success, and Groves knows his team must respond differently today. “The way that this last week's been going, with the big, big breakaways going, that’s something that will not suit us,” he admitted.

Then there’s the finale itself: a flat, fast run-in on the outskirts of Milan with a twist. “Controlling is one thing,” Groves said, “but coming back in the final will be hard with a technical circuit.” He’s referring to the series of corners late in the stage, including one just 700 metres from the line. “The breakaway needs to be back before the circuit because with the technical corners it’s so hard to close the gap.”

Despite the challenges, Groves sounded relaxed about the final kilometre. “It’s pretty straightforward… from the last kilometre, the final 800m [is] more or less flat,” he noted. “It’s not super important to be really far forward or something, so timing is super important to launch the sprint.”

Groves already has one win in the bag, but he’s not resting on it. “Of course, it helps to take the pressure off,” he admitted. “But we treat today like as if we hadn’t already got a win and we go for it.”

With only today and the final stage in Rome offering opportunities for the fast finishers, Groves knows this is one of just two remaining chances. And if he can survive the next two mountain days, he could be in contention for both.

As for the GC battle raging in the high mountains, Groves confessed he hasn’t been able to follow it closely. “From what I’ve been told, it’s been a super nice battle to watch. Obviously I haven’t been able to see anything,” he said with a laugh. “But Del Toro is putting on a show and I wish him and the rest of the GC contenders good legs for these coming two days.”

Yesterday, on stage 17, Isaac del Toro took the win and bounced back after a difficult day on Tuesday, to extend his lead over Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates. The GC battle will re-start tomorrow, but today should be a day the battle for the Maglia rosa takes a momentary break.

Pressed on his pick for the pink jersey, Groves didn’t hesitate: “I think Del Toro will hold on.”