Kuss' Vuelta a Espana victory confirmed as Kaden Groves wins incredibly dramatic final stage in Madrid

A Grand Tour full of drama, the 2023 Vuelta a Espana continued to thrill all the way to the final finish line as Kaden Groves took victory on an incredible stage 21 in Madrid.

The race finally reaches its end, into Madrid. A short flat day with no difficulties, the surviving sprinters are rewarded for overcoming a brutal race with one final chance for success.

After the traditional pomp and circumstance of a Grand Tour stage 21, the racing began within the peloton as they entered the finishing circuit in Madrid.

There was immediate tension within the peloton as they reached the circuit as Alpecin-Deceuninck looked to hold position at the front and deter any potential attacks ahead of the intermediate sprint.

After the sprint, Alpecin relented somewhat and attacks began to come off the front of the peloton. The first group going clear included Rui Costa, Nico Denz and Lennard Kamna.

Soon after, Remco Evenepoel went on the attack with Kaden Groves right on his back wheel and Filippo Ganna on his wheel in turn.

As the chasing trio met up with the leaders and made in a six-rider lead group, the gap to the peloton grew to over 30 seconds.

Five of the six leaders had already won a stage at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana meaning this was a real threat to the peloton. And with Ganna and Groves up the road, two of the main possible sprint teams were not chasing.

Even Rui Costa, who got his stage win from the breakaway through some tactical cleverness, was fully giving his all in the break and doing long, hard turns at the front.

With 10km to go, the leaders remained 15 seconds clear of the peloton and the chase was running out of riders to power them in a thrilling dynamic.

Just 3km to go and the gap had almost, finally, been closed but the final catch could not be completed.

Into the final kilometre and they still dangled out front but by only a handful of seconds at this point and the coordination finally stalled allowing the capture.

Evenepoel though tried one last flyer, but all he could do was lead out Groves who secured a victory that will go down in history.

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