In Santander, Spain, Kaden Groves secured his third stage victory in this year’s Spanish Vuelta, while Ben O’Connor, also from Australia, maintained a slim lead over Primoz Roglic on Wednesday. Groves claimed his seventh career stage win at the end of a rainy 141.5-kilometer (88 miles) route from Arnuero to Santander, which concluded with a flat finish.
“Starting dry and finishing wet made it quite dangerous,” Groves mentioned, reflecting on the challenging conditions of the race. He also emphasized the scarcity of sprint stages in the Vuelta, noting the need for intermediate riders to make the most of such opportunities. O’Connor and Roglic crossed the finish line together, keeping the five-second gap between them as they head into the crucial stages leading to the weekend finish in Madrid.
O’Connor remarked on the wet and tricky conditions but characterized the day’s racing as less complicated than anticipated. The Australian rider acknowledged the team’s efforts so far and the importance of managing breaks efficiently in the upcoming stages. Earlier, it was announced that Wout van Aert of team Visma–Lease a Bike would require intensive care for a serious knee injury, leading to his withdrawal from the race after a crash during stage 16.
Stage 18 on Thursday will consist of a 179.5-kilometer (111-mile) mid-mountain route featuring a category-one climb that could challenge sprinters in the peloton. The anticipation is high for another exciting stage in the Spanish Vuelta.
