Kaden Groves bumped up a place as Max Kanter yellow carded in Giro d'Italia stage four
Australian cyclist Kaden Groves's long wait for a win goes on after he was squeezed out on the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia.
The Australian sprinter has not topped the podium for 250 days, last doing so at the Vuelta a España in September.
A flat 189-kilometre stage from Alberobello to Lecce offered the prospect of breaking that drought but his Alpecin-Deceuninck team struggled to find the optimum position in a tricky finish and Groves came home in sixth.
But he was later bumped up to fifth place after German rider Max Kanter was controversially relegated to 103rd.
The XDS Astana sprinter was penalised for bumping with race leader Mads Pedersen in the bustle for prime position leading into the bunch sprint, although many saw it as a harsh punishment.
In addition to being docked 98 places, he was fined 500 Swiss francs ($920), lost 13 points in the race for the sprinter's mauve jersey and handed a yellow card. Another one, and he is out of the race.
Picnic-PostNL rider Bram Welten was also carded for sitting up and decelerating into the chasing pack after leading out for eventual winner, Casper van Uden.
Van Uden led a Dutch 1-2-3, with the grand tour debutant surprising the peloton by holding off compatriots Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Maikel Zijlaard (Tudoe Pro) in a tense finish.
Pink jersey wearer Mads Pedersen was fourth, a disappointment for the Dane who had already won two stages, but also a relief after being close to two crashes.
One involved most of his Lidl-Trek team and the other took out his final lead-out man, Soren Kragh Andersen, who appeared to have badly injured his left wrist.
Pedersen's general classification lead over pre-race favourite Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was cut to seven seconds after the Slovenian picked up an intermediate sprint bonus. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) is seven seconds further adrift.
Australia's best GC hope, Michael Storer (Tudor Pro), is ninth, 36 seconds behind Pedersen.
Groves should have another chance in the fifth stage, a 151km ride from Ceglie Messapica to Matera with a rising finish.
AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Game flipped after Sharks sin bin
NRL: The Fox League panel look into the sin bin which would flip the game and hand the Dragons a first half lead.
Perth Now
16 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Bavuma review leaves Aussie fans frustrated
An early review from South African captain Temba Bavuma has fired up aggrieved Aussie fans on the second morning of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. Australia started the day in prime position despite crumbling to 212 all out on day one, having reduced the Proteas' top order to 4-43. However, it was not enough for fans as it became five down, Bavuma appearing to miss a ball from Josh Hazlewood that nipped back into his pads. Umpire Chris Gaffney needed little convincing of the LBW shout, raising the finger and prompting Australian celebrations. The South African skipper hesitated before calling the review late. As the replays rolled, Snicko technology showed a noise as the red Dukes ball passed Bavuma's inside edge, third umpire Richard Kettleborough convinced it was enough to overturn the dismissal, saving Bavuma. But Australian fans fumed, the replays showing a gap between bat and ball with Bavuma's white-wrapped off stump visible between the two. One X account said: 'If the third umpire used his two eyes he would see it was obvious the bloke missed the ball. Incompetence seems to run through ICC umpires.' Bavuma made the most of the reprieve, starting to take the attack to the favourites after South Africa's placid efforts in the final hour of the opening day nearly undid their bowlers' hard work. He and David Bedingham combined for a 64-run partnership, having guided the Proteas to the drinks break without loss. The Aussies would not be held down, though, as under-pressure batter Marnus Labuschagne showed his worth in the field with a nice diving catch at cover to remove the captain for 36 off the bowling of Pat Cummins. Bavuma had hit Cummins for a six in his previous over. Approaching lunch, South Africa trailed Australia's first innings by 113 runs with Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne at the crease.
News.com.au
18 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Absolute joke': Cricket world blasts Temba Bavuma review
A successful review from South African captain Temba Bavuma left everyone completely baffled on day two of the World Test Championship final against Australia. The pint-sized batsman made an attacking intent to the second day at Lord's, with the Proteas resuming their innings at 4/43 in reply to Australia's 212 all out. The 35-year-old hit two boundaries from one Mitchell Starc over as Bavuma and David Bedingham put on a 50-run stand for the fifth wicket. Bavuma eventually fell for 36, reducing South Africa to 5/94 after a strong start to the day from the Proteas. But a hugely controversial moment in the 28th over ignited the cricket world, after Josh Hazlewood appeared to trap Bavuma plumb in front when he was on 17. The umpire immediately gave Bavuma out and the Aussies celebrated, with the South African's reaction telling as he took his time and consulted with Bedingham before decided to review the decision. Typically if a batsman knows he has hit the ball on a leg before appeal, they immediately appeal, but that wasn't the case on Thursday. 'He takes the review,' Ian Smith said on Prime Video. 'I'm not sure I like his chances.' The review played out and when TV umpire Richard Kettleborough asked for the Ultra Edge technology, sure enough there was a small spike on the screen. Kettleborough's response said it all as he turned to a colleague and shrugged, as if to say well there you go, I have to give this out. Nobody else felt Bavuma had hit the ball, seemingly including the batter himself, but he indeed earned a stunning life as his innings continued. 'Well that's an interesting one for me, I've got to say,' Smith continued once the decision came through. 'Because it took forever to think about reviewing it. 'When you feel as if you've got a touch on it you just automatically say 'I'm sorry, I'm reviewing that because I believe my bat has made contact with the ball there'. 'There was no semblance of that in that discussion. 'That was so interesting.' As more replays were shown, former Kiwi cricketer Smith said: 'The body language though. 'There's no thought at all, with his own thinking, that he's made contact with that. 'There's none. None at all.' Mel Jones also discussed the moment when she took over the commentary duties. 'This was the slightly controversial one because everything aligned in terms of the LBW shout,' she said over another replay. 'Temba Bavuma's reaction was all about 'do we use the review, was it going to hit'. 'It didn't feel at all like he had that inside edge.' Those watching on quickly took to social media to voice similar sentiments. One fired up fan wrote on X: 'Wtf is going on here? Clearly NO bat involved. even Bavuma knew it wasn't edged! And still, DRS says otherwise? Absolute joke!' Another said: 'The spike was so pronounced, yet no noise on replay apart ball hitting pad. He knows that was a technical glitch that saved him then.' A third declared: 'There was a clear gap between bat & ball for the Bavuma LBW review, this is where the TV umpire should be allowed to overrule the technology.' A fourth wrote simply: 'But he didn't hit it.' Regardless of the technology fail or a mysterious feather not seen by the naked eye, Bavuma survived and was keen to get on with his reprieve as South Africa raced towards Australia's first innings total. Bavuma added 19 valuable runs to his total before he finally fell, Marnus Labuschagne taking a screamer from Pat Cummins' bowling.
