Ten weeks, one injury, zero races: Groves arrives at the Giro with plenty to prove

Alpecin-Premier Tech are counting on Kaden Groves for stage wins at the Giro d'Italia. Though how sharp the sprinter will be remains an open question. The Australian had been pencilled in for a busy spring, but injury kept him out of racing after Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, now over two months ago. On the team's website, the fast man looks ahead to his eighth Grand Tour.

Alpecin-Premier Tech chase stage wins at the Giro as a matter of routine, and this year they will do so primarily through Groves — a sprinter who has not raced in months. "At the time, I decided together with the medical staff to skip the Classics. That wasn't easy, but it was the right step in the recovery," the Australian explains.

Since his injury, Groves has been back in training camp and heads into the Giro with confidence. "I've arrived in Bulgaria at a good level. I'm happy and I have confidence in the strong team around me."

"There's an opportunity for me right away in stage one, so we're going all-in for that," the powerhouse sprinter says, looking ahead. Stage one is a flat stage, meaning the first maglia rosa should go to a sprinter. And Groves knows how to win in Grand Tours. He has taken at least one stage win in each of the three Grand Tours, and has won the Vuelta a España points classification twice.

Alpecin's lead sprinter is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. "I think Jonathan Milan is the top favourite for both the sprint stages and the points classification, but with Paul Magnier, Tobias Lund Andresen, Arnaud De Lie and me, there is a lot of competition in the sprint stages."

Despite that competition, Groves backs himself and his team. "Edward Planckaert, Jensen Plowright and Jonas Geens will support me in the sprints. It's a good mix, and having experienced riders there is a big advantage." The purple jersey is not entirely out of his mind either. "But a stage win is the main goal."

Sports director Gianni Meersman is fully aligned with his sprinter. "We come here with one clear goal: stage wins. It's no secret that Kaden is our best weapon for that. He has already won stages in all three Grand Tours and brings a great deal of experience. He is our most important card."

Meersman does acknowledge the uncertainty around Groves's form. "He's missing race rhythm, so that could be a factor. Fortunately, Kaden is a rider who can grow into a Grand Tour." Beyond Groves's sprint train, Meersman points to two other free agents in the squad. "Luca Vergallito and Francesco Busatto will focus on the hilly stages."

Groves himself sounded a more positive note at the team presentation, in a brief exchange with Eurosport. "The form is really good. I've prepared well at altitude with the team. I'm ready — but because I haven't raced for a long time, there are obviously some question marks. I expect my legs will be there, and if not, I'll only get better as the Giro goes on."