Groves ready for Giro after knee issues: "Altitude training usually works well for me"

Sports director Gianni Meersman announced in the press release from Alpecin-Deceuninck that Groves is the team leader and can count on a strong sprint train with Edward Planckaert, Timo Kielich, and Fabio Van Den Bossche. This means Groves will have exactly the same men at his disposal as those who supported him last year in the Giro, where he finished in the top three four times.

"The Giro is one of my biggest goals," Groves said at the Tour of Italy in Tirana. ”Two years ago, I won a stage, and last year, I was on the podium several times, but I didn't win. Hopefully, we can change that now. The race is always quite open, with all kinds of winners. Even in flat stages," says Groves, who therefore needs men who can do the hard work at the front. Those men are Jimmy Janssens and Juri Hollman, puncher Quinten Hermans, and fellow countryman Jensen Plowright.

Groves had to abandon the Tour of Catalonia with knee issues, which meant he had to draw a line under his spring season. "After dealing with knee issues earlier this year, his full focus has been on the Giro. He’s pain-free now, and we believe he’s ready to show his form, hopefully right from the first sprint opportunity in Tirana," Meersman said.

The 26-year-old Australian confirmed this assessment. "Things are going well, and I've been able to prepare at altitude, which usually works well for me. I haven't raced for a while after missing part of the spring classics due to injury. In that respect, I still have some question marks, but I'm happy to be at the start."

In the first stage, the pink jersey is up for grabs, with many fans pointing to stronger sprinters such as Mads Pedersen, Wout van Aert, and Groves. "The pink jersey after stage one is possible if it's a sprint with a larger group. But it will also depend on the plans of the better climbers and GC contenders," said Groves, who will face van Aert again.

The two also faced each other several times in last year's Vuelta. Groves ultimately won three stages in that race and the points classification after van Aert dropped out.