Wind causes chaos ahead of Perpignan finale.
Australian Kaden Groves made it a dream start for Team BikeExchange-Jayco at the Volta a Catalunya by claiming his first ever WorldTour victory, following a phenomenal leadout from yesterday’s stage winner Michael Matthews.
After a dramatic day that saw the team’s general classification hopeful Simon Yates crash at a crucial point in the race, Groves finally grabbed that elusive victory after five close-call podium finishes already in 2022.
It was a more routine start to the second day of racing as a three-rider breakaway formed and Team BikeExchange-Jayco assumed control at the front of the bunch. The pace eventually began to ramp up as the peloton passed over the third and final categorised climb, but it was on the flat run to the finish that the race burst into life.
With the threat of crosswinds looming, the battle for road position began and Yates was caught out in a crash with 15km to go. The recent Paris-Nice stage winner was quickly back underway with teammates around him, but with the peloton now split to pieces, it was a frantic chase to limit any time loses.
Meanwhile, Groves and Matthews delivered a masterclass in the leading group, with yesterday’s stage winner guiding his younger teammate into position inside the final kilometre. As Matthews swung off, Groves was glued to the wheel of Phil Bauhaus as the sprint opened up, with the 23-year-old timing his lunge to the line to perfection to take the win and make it back-to-back victories for the team.
Kaden Groves (1st):
“It was pretty tough actually [the run to the finish line], with some echelons splitting the bunch, but Michael and I were in the front and a lot of other strong teams like Movistar and Jumbo. We had Simon out the back and they were using that to their advantage to maybe put some time into him, so it was pretty full gas.
The guys did such a great job all day riding in a good position and riding on the front, making sure the breakaway was close so it could be a sprint today, and also being in position for the corners before the crosswinds.
I liked this stage, I picked this stage out to get the victory and I can’t believe I’ve got it and maybe later in the week we can have another sprint.”
Michael Matthews:
“It was a pretty stressful day actually, and I think after yesterday everyone sort of knew we had quite a strong team here, especially for the crosswind sections. We were riding at the front, but everyone was coming up and fighting all day, I think it was a more difficult day than we expected.
We’ve been fighting for this for a long time, and to be a part of Kaden’s first WorldTour victory is something special. We were close on the last stage of Tirreno, but just fell short, and today we were able to pull it off. I think with me winning yesterday and being able to do a leadout in the leader’s jersey and my teammate winning, what more can we ask for?”
2022 Volta a Catalunya Stage 2 – Results
- Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange-Jayco) 4:44:28
- Phil Bauhaus ST
- Hugo Hofstetter ST
2022 Volta a Catalunya Stage 2 – GC
- Jonas Hvideberg 8:31:28
- Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange-Jayco) +0:01
- Hugo Hofstetter +0:07
