Big win for Alpecin-Deceuninck as they extend contract with Vuelta standout Kaden Groves

A great boost for Alpecin-Deceuninck. The Belgian team, home to Mathieu van der Poel, has extended the contract of Kaden Groves—the rider who has performed impressively in the ongoing Vuelta, with a stage win and a strong contention for the green jersey—by two years. The team announced this on X and to IDLProCycling.com. Groves will now ride with the team in blue until the end of 2026.

This is a significant move for Alpecin-Deceuninck, as there was considerable interest in the Australian sprinter from other teams. Earlier, there were even rumors of Groves leaving. However, the rider, who has already won stages in both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, has decided to stay loyal to his current team. In this Vuelta, he claimed victory in the second stage, edging out Wout van Aert.

Groves aims for a grand tour Trilogy with Alpecin

Groves expressed his excitement about the new contract, saying, "I can’t wait to continue my journey with Alpecin-Deceuninck for the next two years. I feel at home and perform at my best in this jersey. I have confidence in this environment, knowing that I have the best people supporting me both on and off the road."

"My goals align with those of the team. Of course, I want to pursue my dream of winning stages in all three Grand Tours, but I also have high ambitions for the spring classics. I want to thank the team and especially the management for the trust they’ve placed in me," he concluded.

Groves is also aiming for a stage win in the Tour de France, an arena where the Belgian team has been highly successful in recent years, particularly with Jasper Philipsen. In this Vuelta, Groves will continue to chase more stage victories, especially in the less mountainous stages, where he’ll face off against Van Aert once again.