Groves fit and firing: Alpecin-Premier Tech name their Giro d'Italia team

Alpecin-Premier Tech have announced their Giro d'Italia squad via their social media channels. As expected, the Belgian team will head to Bulgaria without Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen. Instead, they go with sprinter Kaden Groves as their man for stage wins — though he is far from their only option.

This will be Groves' fourth Giro, and he has a fine record at the race. He won a stage on debut and repeated the feat in 2025. The 27-year-old Australian now goes in search of a third Giro stage win. There is also an added incentive on day one: the opening stage in Bulgaria offers sprinters a genuine shot at the pink jersey — and Groves will not need any persuading.

Whether the Australian would make it to the start was an open question for some time. His spring was derailed by a knee injury sustained early in the season, which kept him out for a prolonged period. But after positive news in late April, the team has now confirmed that Groves is fit and ready for the first Grand Tour of the year.

In his pursuit of stage wins, Groves will have a powerful sprint train behind him. Jensen Plowright and Edward Planckaert in particular will be crucial in the final kilometres. Planckaert brings the most Grand Tour experience in the squad — seven starts to his name heading into this race. Jonas Geens can also play a role.

The 27-year-old Belgian, who crossed over from Team Flanders-Baloise, has made an excellent impression in his first WorldTour season. Having already lined up at the Tour of Flanders, the Giro will now be his Grand Tour debut.

Alpecin-Premier Tech are also bringing two Italians for their home race. Luca Vergallito makes his Giro debut having previously started two Vueltas a España, and will be given freedom in the high mountains. Francesco Busatto rides his second Giro and should be capable of a strong result on the harder hilly stages and tougher uphill finishes.

The squad is rounded out by Austrian Tobias Bayer and Dane Johan Price-Pejtersen, who will have high hopes for the stage 10 time trial. For 26-year-old Bayer, this is already his sixth Grand Tour. His contemporary Price-Pejtersen, meanwhile, will be making his Grand Tour debut.