Outsider Groves knows what’s required: packed schedule includes Giro, Tour and the Classics

It was a strong year for the sprinter from Down Under, especially in the Grand Tours. At the Giro d’Italia, he finished on the podium three times, including one stage win. At the Tour de France, he also took a stage victory by beating his breakaway companions, and he even managed third place from a bunch sprint.

Those two Grand Tours are once again on the schedule for Alpecin’s outsider. In the Tour, as was originally the plan last year before Jasper Philipsen’s crash, Groves is expected to serve as lead-out man for the Belgian sprint leader. At the Giro, the Australian’s chances of racing for his own results appear greater. In that sense, it looks very much like a copy-paste of 2025.

The 27-year-old is also included in Alpecin’s Classics group — the key focus for the squad led by the Roodhooft brothers. “I think the team’s goal stays the same: trying to win a Monument and as many Classics as possible,” Groves said.

Groves will play his part in that plan, too. “I’ll ride most of them, including Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris–Roubaix. I’ll also do Milano–Torino and Milano–Sanremo,” he explained. In those spring races, Groves is expected to primarily support Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel — though a freer role for the Australian in certain races would not be a surprise.

Groves opened his road season at the Volta ao Algarve and felt good right away. “I enjoyed that first week,” he said. Groves admitted the team could have taken more results in Portugal, but was still satisfied overall: “Of course we missed a few results, but I think the team rode really well.”

Looking ahead to a packed spring schedule, the Australian remains upbeat. “I think I’m getting better every day — I’m looking forward to next week,” Groves added. He is currently on the provisional start list for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where he would line up alongside Philipsen (and possibly Van der Poel) as Alpecin go hunting for the first big Classics win of the year.