Kaden Groves Alpecin - Premier Tech at Vuelta a España - Australian might be Brennan's biggest sprint rival
Cycling
Alpecin - Premier Tech commonly deposit all of their chips in the spring classics and Tour de France, whilst the team's vast array of classics specialists get freedom at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. That is once again the case this year with a diverse lineup for the Belgian team, led by Kaden Groves.
Groves started the Giro d'Italia but was forced to abandon in the first days of the race. After a start of the season where he was hampered by a knee injury, it has meant that thus far the Australian has only 15 race days, and has only finished in the Top10 of a stage on one occasions.
The 27-year old is going to be departing Alpecin at the end of the season, most likely towards Tudor; with the team having already confirmed the arrivals of Casper van Uden and Madis Mihkels who are set to replace him in the pursuit of sprint victories for the team.
However Groves has one final shot at success in a three-week race with Alpecin, the team in which he has truly found his level. Having joined the team in 2023, he won the points classifications at the Vuelta on two consecutive occasions, winning six stages in these two participations.
Kaden Groves won a stage at the Tour de France in 2025
His versatility has often proved to be the key for his success at the Spanish Grand Tour. Not only is he one of the best sprinters in the peloton, but simultaneously he is a tremendous classics specialist, having won a stage at the Tour de France last year solo from a breakaway.
He will have to do without a leadout however, with Sente Sentjens being the only rider experienced in dealing with bunch sprints, with the team largely leaving out their classics specialists and sprinters out of the three-week race.
Instead, freedom will be given towards its climber Ramses Debruyne who has been impressing this season, albeit not having much support to count on in the mountainous days. Most of the team will have the clear task of aiming for wins in the hilly days. Francesco Busatto, Michael Gogl, Hugo Houle, Gal Glivar and Lindsay de Vylder have been the riders selected to take part in the race.
Read also
Alpecin - Premier Tech for 2026 Vuelta a España:
| Riders |
| Ramses Debruyne |
| Kaden Groves |
| Michael Gogl |
| Francesco Busatto |
| Sente Sentjens |
| Lindsay de Vylder |
| Gal Glivar |
| Hugo Houle |
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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