Groves wins in crazy sprint on a day marked by Alaphilippe’s crash and Covid cases

Cycling is a fickle sport and there are times, more than necessary, that no matter how fast the racers run with all five senses on the road, misfortunes befall themselves. And this Wednesday in a cheap episode, argued under the heat of justice, this event was once again proven. The day did not start well with the departure of two of the best classified riders overall, Simon Yate Y Pavel Shivakovwhere three members of Kern Pharma; saving for the moment (you have to cross your fingers) John Ayuso.

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The pearl of Spanish cycling contested the time trial after spending a night with a severe headache and before starting the The hole the runner born Barcelona He admitted that he had muscular pain at night. It looks bad, but so far the member of UAE Team Emirates is avoiding the grips of Covid-19, which seems to have lost part of its harmful power, but has caused so far in Cabo de Gata the abandonment of 20 runners after testing positive for the coronavirus.

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In fear of the body and after taking extreme precautions, a stage began destined for a sprint result, no matter howe Jestse Bol (Burgos-BH), Joan Bou (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Vojtech Repa (Kern Pharma) they want to spice it up and get ahead of the pack in a breakaway that has nowhere else to go other than serving as a showcase for the team’s sponsors.

Alaphilippe’s misfortune

The race advances at a weary pace towards Cabo de Gata when in a curve with no apparent danger, about 60 kilometers from the finish line, the world champion. Julian Alaphilippe he fell into such bad luck that he had to leave the race. As soon as he hit the hot asphalt, he grabbed his wrist and right clavicle and was evacuated by ambulance with his arm in a sling to the nearest hospital. Unlucky for the double world champion to come to the return with the idea of ​​preparation September World Championship in Australia And bad news for leader Remco Evenepoel, who lost one of his best squires.

At this point in the race, one can only hope that the sprint will take place and there will be no incidents. Having saved a left curve the peloton headed into a long straight. The team BikeExchange He worked best to put his fastest man in contention on the stage, and that was the Australian Kaden Groves prevailed upon a certain independence from the Dutch Danny Van Poppel and the Belgians Tim Merlier. It was his ninth victory as a professional, second world tour after the of Cycling Tour of Catalonia of this year in Perpinyaand who knows if the last one in his current training, because from next year he will be a member of Alpine.

And after the sprint, the teams quickly head to their ‘bubbles’ to try to avoid the most dangerous rival that threatens them one day and the next too: the Covid. Be careful with.