Groves wins stage 11 as Alaphilippe crash puts world title defence in doubt

Australian rider Kaden Groves celebrates as he wins the 11th stage of the 2022 La Vuelta cycling tour of Spain. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia’s Kaden Groves of Team BikeExchange-Jayco won stage 11 of the Vuelta a España, a 191.2km flat ride from Alhama de Murcia to Cabo de Gata on Wednesday, while the world champion Julian Alaphilippe crashed out.

Groves secured the victory in a tight finish, beating Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to the line.