Aussie Groves makes podium but misses out at Giro
Kaden Groves got it all right to prevail in the sprint finale to the 14th stage as the Giro d'Italia had a warmly greeted stopover in Slovenia - but, alas for the Queensland speedster, it was only enough to earn him the runner-up prize for the day.
For 16 seconds up ahead in the finale to the stage at Nova Gorica on Saturday, Denmark's Kasper Asgreen, who'd got into an early breakaway, escaped on his own to steal the win which had looked tailor-made for the sprinters.
Groves, who had been looking for another win in the 108th Giro after victory on the crash-laden sixth stage in Naples, had to settle for second this time in the 168km trek from across the border in Treviso as the Alpecin-Deceuninck ace edged out Dutchman Olav Kooij, winner of Thursday's stage 12.
For Groves that's now four top-five finishes in this year's race but this one will doubtless come as a frustration on a wet, slippery day after Asgreen stole a march from the breakaway five kilometres from home, splashing away to his second Grand Tour win.
Behind him there had been chaos after a crash which enabled the overall race leader Isaac del Toro to gain time on many of his biggest rivals who'd been slowed by the pile-up about 22km from the finish that occurred on a narrow cobblestoned section.
Del Toro, the first Mexican rider to wear the leader's pink jersey, benefited by featuring in the second group containing Groves.
But his UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso, 2023 champion Primoz Roglic and top-placed Italian Antonio Tiberi all finished further behind, along with Australia's main GC hope Michael Storer.
"We wanted to be ahead in case accidents like that happen or there are splits in the group," said del Toro.
He entered the stage 38 seconds up on Ayuso and improved his lead to 1 minute 20 seconds, but his nearest challenger now is Briton Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) with his Spanish teammate dropping to third, 1:26 behind.
The 2019 champion Richard Carapaz is fourth, 2:07 behind; and Roglic is 2:23 adrift in fifth, with Storer now 13th at 4:25.
Mads Pedersen, who might have fancied a fifth stage win of the race, also had his chances ended in the crash and had to change bikes.
"In the second half of a Grand Tour, everybody has tired legs and that made the difference today for the breakaway to be successful," Asgreen said.
"The weather conditions have definitely played in my favor. The final circuit was quite technical. Wet roads made it harder for the bunch to catch us."
Stage 15 on Sunday will feature a big climb up Monte Grappa at the mid-point of the 219km route from Fiume Veneto to Asiago.
Kaden Groves got it all right to prevail in the sprint finale to the 14th stage as the Giro d'Italia had a warmly greeted stopover in Slovenia - but, alas for the Queensland speedster, it was only enough to earn him the runner-up prize for the day.
For 16 seconds up ahead in the finale to the stage at Nova Gorica on Saturday, Denmark's Kasper Asgreen, who'd got into an early breakaway, escaped on his own to steal the win which had looked tailor-made for the sprinters.
Groves, who had been looking for another win in the 108th Giro after victory on the crash-laden sixth stage in Naples, had to settle for second this time in the 168km trek from across the border in Treviso as the Alpecin-Deceuninck ace edged out Dutchman Olav Kooij, winner of Thursday's stage 12.
For Groves that's now four top-five finishes in this year's race but this one will doubtless come as a frustration on a wet, slippery day after Asgreen stole a march from the breakaway five kilometres from home, splashing away to his second Grand Tour win.
Behind him there had been chaos after a crash which enabled the overall race leader Isaac del Toro to gain time on many of his biggest rivals who'd been slowed by the pile-up about 22km from the finish that occurred on a narrow cobblestoned section.
Del Toro, the first Mexican rider to wear the leader's pink jersey, benefited by featuring in the second group containing Groves.
But his UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso, 2023 champion Primoz Roglic and top-placed Italian Antonio Tiberi all finished further behind, along with Australia's main GC hope Michael Storer.
"We wanted to be ahead in case accidents like that happen or there are splits in the group," said del Toro.
He entered the stage 38 seconds up on Ayuso and improved his lead to 1 minute 20 seconds, but his nearest challenger now is Briton Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) with his Spanish teammate dropping to third, 1:26 behind.
The 2019 champion Richard Carapaz is fourth, 2:07 behind; and Roglic is 2:23 adrift in fifth, with Storer now 13th at 4:25.
Mads Pedersen, who might have fancied a fifth stage win of the race, also had his chances ended in the crash and had to change bikes.
"In the second half of a Grand Tour, everybody has tired legs and that made the difference today for the breakaway to be successful," Asgreen said.
"The weather conditions have definitely played in my favor. The final circuit was quite technical. Wet roads made it harder for the bunch to catch us."
Stage 15 on Sunday will feature a big climb up Monte Grappa at the mid-point of the 219km route from Fiume Veneto to Asiago.
Kaden Groves got it all right to prevail in the sprint finale to the 14th stage as the Giro d'Italia had a warmly greeted stopover in Slovenia - but, alas for the Queensland speedster, it was only enough to earn him the runner-up prize for the day.
For 16 seconds up ahead in the finale to the stage at Nova Gorica on Saturday, Denmark's Kasper Asgreen, who'd got into an early breakaway, escaped on his own to steal the win which had looked tailor-made for the sprinters.
Groves, who had been looking for another win in the 108th Giro after victory on the crash-laden sixth stage in Naples, had to settle for second this time in the 168km trek from across the border in Treviso as the Alpecin-Deceuninck ace edged out Dutchman Olav Kooij, winner of Thursday's stage 12.
For Groves that's now four top-five finishes in this year's race but this one will doubtless come as a frustration on a wet, slippery day after Asgreen stole a march from the breakaway five kilometres from home, splashing away to his second Grand Tour win.
Behind him there had been chaos after a crash which enabled the overall race leader Isaac del Toro to gain time on many of his biggest rivals who'd been slowed by the pile-up about 22km from the finish that occurred on a narrow cobblestoned section.
Del Toro, the first Mexican rider to wear the leader's pink jersey, benefited by featuring in the second group containing Groves.
But his UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso, 2023 champion Primoz Roglic and top-placed Italian Antonio Tiberi all finished further behind, along with Australia's main GC hope Michael Storer.
"We wanted to be ahead in case accidents like that happen or there are splits in the group," said del Toro.
He entered the stage 38 seconds up on Ayuso and improved his lead to 1 minute 20 seconds, but his nearest challenger now is Briton Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) with his Spanish teammate dropping to third, 1:26 behind.
The 2019 champion Richard Carapaz is fourth, 2:07 behind; and Roglic is 2:23 adrift in fifth, with Storer now 13th at 4:25.
Mads Pedersen, who might have fancied a fifth stage win of the race, also had his chances ended in the crash and had to change bikes.
"In the second half of a Grand Tour, everybody has tired legs and that made the difference today for the breakaway to be successful," Asgreen said.
"The weather conditions have definitely played in my favor. The final circuit was quite technical. Wet roads made it harder for the bunch to catch us."
Stage 15 on Sunday will feature a big climb up Monte Grappa at the mid-point of the 219km route from Fiume Veneto to Asiago.
Kaden Groves got it all right to prevail in the sprint finale to the 14th stage as the Giro d'Italia had a warmly greeted stopover in Slovenia - but, alas for the Queensland speedster, it was only enough to earn him the runner-up prize for the day.
For 16 seconds up ahead in the finale to the stage at Nova Gorica on Saturday, Denmark's Kasper Asgreen, who'd got into an early breakaway, escaped on his own to steal the win which had looked tailor-made for the sprinters.
Groves, who had been looking for another win in the 108th Giro after victory on the crash-laden sixth stage in Naples, had to settle for second this time in the 168km trek from across the border in Treviso as the Alpecin-Deceuninck ace edged out Dutchman Olav Kooij, winner of Thursday's stage 12.
For Groves that's now four top-five finishes in this year's race but this one will doubtless come as a frustration on a wet, slippery day after Asgreen stole a march from the breakaway five kilometres from home, splashing away to his second Grand Tour win.
Behind him there had been chaos after a crash which enabled the overall race leader Isaac del Toro to gain time on many of his biggest rivals who'd been slowed by the pile-up about 22km from the finish that occurred on a narrow cobblestoned section.
Del Toro, the first Mexican rider to wear the leader's pink jersey, benefited by featuring in the second group containing Groves.
But his UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso, 2023 champion Primoz Roglic and top-placed Italian Antonio Tiberi all finished further behind, along with Australia's main GC hope Michael Storer.
"We wanted to be ahead in case accidents like that happen or there are splits in the group," said del Toro.
He entered the stage 38 seconds up on Ayuso and improved his lead to 1 minute 20 seconds, but his nearest challenger now is Briton Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) with his Spanish teammate dropping to third, 1:26 behind.
The 2019 champion Richard Carapaz is fourth, 2:07 behind; and Roglic is 2:23 adrift in fifth, with Storer now 13th at 4:25.
Mads Pedersen, who might have fancied a fifth stage win of the race, also had his chances ended in the crash and had to change bikes.
"In the second half of a Grand Tour, everybody has tired legs and that made the difference today for the breakaway to be successful," Asgreen said.
"The weather conditions have definitely played in my favor. The final circuit was quite technical. Wet roads made it harder for the bunch to catch us."
Stage 15 on Sunday will feature a big climb up Monte Grappa at the mid-point of the 219km route from Fiume Veneto to Asiago.
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
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Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his wild crash with George Russell by admitting it "was not right and should have not happened". The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Russell said he felt Verstappen's move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified for the crash. Verstappen refused to accept blame after the race for the coming together, and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his British rival's criticism. However, in a message posted on social media on Monday, Verstappen said: "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. "Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. "I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you (at the next race) in Montreal." Verstappen, who was on the slower hard tyre compound, lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car. Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton. "Max, can you let Russell through, please?" said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. "What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road." Verstappen slowed down at turn five to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes. "What the f***"?" Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way and crossed the line in fifth. However, he was hit with a timed penalty by the stewards - demoting him to 10th - and punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings. It marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been linked with a move for Verstappen, said: "I don't know exactly what the motivations were and I don't want to jump on it and say it was road rage, but it wasn't nice. "The great ones, whether it's in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and perform at the highest possible level. "That's why sometimes these greats don't recognise that actually the world is not against you, it's just you who has made a mistake or screwed up." Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his wild crash with George Russell by admitting it "was not right and should have not happened". The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Russell said he felt Verstappen's move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified for the crash. Verstappen refused to accept blame after the race for the coming together, and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his British rival's criticism. However, in a message posted on social media on Monday, Verstappen said: "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. "Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. "I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you (at the next race) in Montreal." Verstappen, who was on the slower hard tyre compound, lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car. Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton. "Max, can you let Russell through, please?" said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. "What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road." Verstappen slowed down at turn five to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes. "What the f***"?" Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way and crossed the line in fifth. However, he was hit with a timed penalty by the stewards - demoting him to 10th - and punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings. It marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been linked with a move for Verstappen, said: "I don't know exactly what the motivations were and I don't want to jump on it and say it was road rage, but it wasn't nice. "The great ones, whether it's in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and perform at the highest possible level. "That's why sometimes these greats don't recognise that actually the world is not against you, it's just you who has made a mistake or screwed up." Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his wild crash with George Russell by admitting it "was not right and should have not happened". The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Russell said he felt Verstappen's move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified for the crash. Verstappen refused to accept blame after the race for the coming together, and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his British rival's criticism. However, in a message posted on social media on Monday, Verstappen said: "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. "Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. "I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you (at the next race) in Montreal." Verstappen, who was on the slower hard tyre compound, lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car. Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton. "Max, can you let Russell through, please?" said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. "What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road." Verstappen slowed down at turn five to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes. "What the f***"?" Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way and crossed the line in fifth. However, he was hit with a timed penalty by the stewards - demoting him to 10th - and punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings. It marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been linked with a move for Verstappen, said: "I don't know exactly what the motivations were and I don't want to jump on it and say it was road rage, but it wasn't nice. "The great ones, whether it's in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and perform at the highest possible level. "That's why sometimes these greats don't recognise that actually the world is not against you, it's just you who has made a mistake or screwed up." Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his wild crash with George Russell by admitting it "was not right and should have not happened". The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Russell said he felt Verstappen's move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified for the crash. Verstappen refused to accept blame after the race for the coming together, and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his British rival's criticism. However, in a message posted on social media on Monday, Verstappen said: "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. "Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. "I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you (at the next race) in Montreal." Verstappen, who was on the slower hard tyre compound, lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car. Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton. "Max, can you let Russell through, please?" said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. "What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road." Verstappen slowed down at turn five to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes. "What the f***"?" Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way and crossed the line in fifth. However, he was hit with a timed penalty by the stewards - demoting him to 10th - and punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings. It marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been linked with a move for Verstappen, said: "I don't know exactly what the motivations were and I don't want to jump on it and say it was road rage, but it wasn't nice. "The great ones, whether it's in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and perform at the highest possible level. "That's why sometimes these greats don't recognise that actually the world is not against you, it's just you who has made a mistake or screwed up."
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
'It was not right': Mad Max opens up over GP hit
Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his wild crash with George Russell by admitting it "was not right and should have not happened". The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Russell said he felt Verstappen's move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified for the crash. Verstappen refused to accept blame after the race for the coming together, and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his British rival's criticism. However, in a message posted on social media on Monday, Verstappen said: "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. "Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. "I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you (at the next race) in Montreal." Verstappen, who was on the slower hard tyre compound, lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car. Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton. "Max, can you let Russell through, please?" said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. "What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road." Verstappen slowed down at turn five to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes. "What the f***"?" Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way and crossed the line in fifth. However, he was hit with a timed penalty by the stewards - demoting him to 10th - and punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings. It marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been linked with a move for Verstappen, said: "I don't know exactly what the motivations were and I don't want to jump on it and say it was road rage, but it wasn't nice. "The great ones, whether it's in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and perform at the highest possible level. "That's why sometimes these greats don't recognise that actually the world is not against you, it's just you who has made a mistake or screwed up."
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
'It was not right': Mad Max opens up over GP hit
Max Verstappen has issued a veiled apology for his wild crash with George Russell by admitting it "was not right and should have not happened". The four-time world champion was hit with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Russell with two laps remaining of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Russell said he felt Verstappen's move was deliberate and accused the Red Bull driver of letting himself down. He also suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified for the crash. Verstappen refused to accept blame after the race for the coming together, and even sarcastically offered Russell a tissue after he was informed of his British rival's criticism. However, in a message posted on social media on Monday, Verstappen said: "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. "Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. "I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you (at the next race) in Montreal." Verstappen, who was on the slower hard tyre compound, lost third place to Charles Leclerc after he opened the door to the Ferrari driver when he made a mistake on the exit of the final corner in a six-lap shootout to the flag following the deployment of a safety car. Russell then attempted to sling his Mercedes underneath Verstappen's Red Bull at the first corner before the Dutchman took to the escape road and remained ahead of the Briton. "Max, can you let Russell through, please?" said Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. "What? I was ahead, mate. What the f***! He just ran me off the road." Verstappen slowed down at turn five to allow Russell past, but then accelerated and drove into his rival's Mercedes. "What the f***"?" Russell said on the radio. Verstappen later moved out of Russell's way and crossed the line in fifth. However, he was hit with a timed penalty by the stewards - demoting him to 10th - and punished with three penalty points on his licence which leaves him just one point away from a race ban. He now trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 49 points in the standings. It marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has been linked with a move for Verstappen, said: "I don't know exactly what the motivations were and I don't want to jump on it and say it was road rage, but it wasn't nice. "The great ones, whether it's in motor racing or in other sports, you just need to have the world against you and perform at the highest possible level. "That's why sometimes these greats don't recognise that actually the world is not against you, it's just you who has made a mistake or screwed up."
