Giro d’Italia: ‘Normal’ for Kaden Groves to be ‘flustered’ after being called out by leader Remco Evenepoel – Dan Lloyd

“The train of Alpecin came through, and I think it was Kaden Groves pushing [Davide] Ballerini. Ballerini touched the wheel of [Josef] Cerny so he had to make a big manoeuvre to stay on the bike.”

Evenepoel perhaps inevitably backed his Lotto-Soudal team-mate Ballerini, while Alpecin–Deceuninck were supportive of their own man Groves.

A crash took down several riders after the 24-year-old Australian sprinter jostled with Ballerini. According to Groves’ team, he was concerned he was being boxed in and close to crashing into the barriers.

There was no action taken by race officials, who appear to regard it as a racing incident, and speaking on The Breakaway on Eurosport’s Giro d’Italia coverage, McEwen said he thinks it is a tough spot to be in.

“He does look a little bit upset about the situation but, to be fair to everybody, it is just a racing incident and everyone will move on,” he said.

“I hope for Kaden, it doesn’t affect him while he’s racing and how he races, and I hope for him that he can actually channel the anxiety he’s feeling into a good result today [Monday]. What a comeback that would be, or a response, to sprint for the win.”

Lloyd agreed that Groves would feel the pressure after Evenepoel namechecked him, but hoped that it did not overwhelm him with the majority of the event in Italy to come.

He explained: “It’s normal to be flustered as well, when the race leader calls you out in a press conference post-race, and you’re trying to think back to exactly what happened then look at those grainy overhead shots.

“So he obviously knows he’s going to be asked this question and he’s teeing himself up for that. I just hope he can get himself beyond that.”

– – –