Australian Groves finishes second to Asgreen in Giro d'Italia stage 14
Australia's Kaden Groves has finished second to Dane Kasper Asgreen in the 14th stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Groves (Alpecin–Deceuninck) outsprinted Dutchman Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) to take second place in the 195-kilometre stage from Treviso to Nova Gorica in Slovenia.
Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost) took advantage of a crash in the chasing peloton and went alone to win the stage, with Mexican Isaac del Toro extending his overall lead.
Several riders were brought down in the crash, leaving Asgreen to go for broke in the final kilometres as he held off the chasing group.
"It was a tough day out there," Asgreen said.
"It's annoying when you have to destroy yourself completely like this to win bike races, but when it works out it's all worth it."
Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) managed to avoid trouble and was with the chasing group, which followed Asgreen over the line to increase his lead at the head of the general classification.
Briton Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) climbed to second.
Del Toro began the day with a 38-second lead over teammate Juan Ayuso but now has a gap of one minute and 20 seconds on Yates.
Ayuso is a further six seconds back.
Groves had claimed victory in the crash-laden sixth stage that finished in Naples.
He now has four top-five finishes in this year's race.
Groves's compatriot Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) leads the Australian contingent in the general classifications in 13th position.
Storer is 4:25 behind del Toro.
Stage 15 features a climb up Monte Grappa at the mid-point of the 219km route from Fiume Veneto to Asiago.
Reuters/AAP
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