"It is still too early to say" - Could Kaden Groves join Van der Poel & Philipsen as part of Alpecin-Deceuninck's Tour de France lineup?

Kaden Groves has proven himself as one of the most successful Grand Tour sprinters in recent years, winning 7 stages of the Vuelta a Espana and a stage of the Giro d'Italia. Thanks in part to the presence of Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel within Alpecin-Deceuninck though, the Aussie is still waiting for his chance to shine at the Tour de France.

Could that change in 2025 though? Although the first portion of Groves' 2025 calendar has been confirmed up to a Giro d'Italia return, his calendar after the Italian Grand Tour remains open. So are Alpecin-Deceuninck really planning to send a stage-winning triple threat of Groves, Van der Poel and Philipsen to France later this summer? "It is still too early to say, because we have to race the spring classics and my first objective is the Giro," The Aussie tells Cyclism'Actu.

"Last year, I was close to victory several times, but I did not win. This year, I really aim to take a stage victory, and I am sure that I will have a good team to support me," adds Groves with an eye on what success at the Giro d'Italia could bring. "We have to wait and see how the body recovers from the Giro and if I am still fit to race the Tour."

Groves admits though, that if a Tour de France debut does emerge for him in 2025, he's likely not to be the Alpecin-Deceuninck leader. “It’s more of a support role, but I also think we will have a really versatile team to help Jasper in the sprints and Mathieu also in the breakaways and, depending on injuries and illnesses, I can also be a reserve sprinter for the team in case something goes wrong," he previews. "Another Monument win with Mathieu or Jasper, then a stage win for me in the Giro and, ideally, if all goes well, be part of a team win in the Tour as well.”