Kaden Groves has been the third rider from
Alpecin-Deceuninck wrapping up a very successful season. After Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen's incredible success stories, the Australian has equally succeeded at the Vuelta a Espana and looks to join them in the cobbles next spring.
"Of course nothing has been set yet for next season, but I believe there is a good chance that I can go to the classics next year," Groves told Rouleur. "I want to ride a slightly broader classics program together with Jasper and Mathieu. I have already ridden a number of races with Jasper this year, but not very many. As a team, we try to spread our opportunities as much as possible and give the sprinters a staggered program."
Groves raced Paris-Roubaix this season, finishing 31st as his teammates finished first and second. He believes he can be another piece in Alpecin's puzzle for the classics to help match rival teams such as Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates. After the performances he's put on this season in some hilly races, and on the attack such as the Vuelta's final day, Groves is eager to show off his talent outside of the bunch sprints on the big screen. "It doesn't make much sense to have both of us starting the same competitions, but we do work very well together," he says of his partnership with Philipsen.
"There is also no internal struggle between us within the team. I think it helps me enormously to be teammates with Jasper. I have made great strides in my development. Altitude training has given me a bigger engine, which I also need because I have a new position in the team as absolute leader. There is more pressure on my shoulders, but I also have more freedom to go all out for stages. This was less the case at BikeExchange a year earlier. The pressure on my shoulders mainly comes from myself."
