News Round-up: First sprint stage arrives at the Vuelta a España

After a team time trial, a rain-soaked flat day and a mountain stage, the first proper sprint day of the Vuelta a España arrived on stage 4, with Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) taking the honours in Tarragona. Elsewhere at the Vuelta, police intercepted a possible protest action on the race, the race director apologised for Remco Evenepoel’s stage 3 crash, and Patrick Lefevere gave an insight into the young Belgian’s views on the recent rumour surrounding his future. Plus, there’s a season update from Marianne Vos, and reports around Lotto Dstny switching bike sponsors after 12 years. Read on for all the top news in cycling today.

| Vuelta a España stage 4: Kaden Groves wins tricky sprint finish in Tarragona

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Groves celebrated taking his third Grand Tour victory with today's win at the Vuelta a España

Kaden Groves of Alpecin-Deceuninck lived up to his pre-stage billing as the out-and-out favourite, with the Australian sprinter coming around Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates) in the closing metres to win stage 4 of the Vuelta a España.

Molano had been the man to take the initiative heading into the final bend, but perhaps misjudged his efforts and was left slowing down as the line drew near.

Over the top of Molano came Groves, who added to his stage victories at last year’s Vuelta and this year’s Giro d’Italia. The finale was marred by a couple of crashes as a technical conclusion brought a thrilling finish in Tarragona.

"It was a really hard day with only DSM and ourselves controlling," reflected Groves. "I had to use two guys to control the breakaway, and they used a lot of energy but my team was fantastic today. They were super aggressive and it paid off with the victory."

"[Sebastián Molano] went from the bottom with about 350m to go. I was patient enough and strong enough to close him with about 100m to go. I thought I was confident about passing him because he had led out from 350m to go and finishing like that is super tough. I’m really happy."

Head over to our race report for a full recap of the stage.

| Police intercept suspected ‘sabotage’ attempt on Vuelta a España

The Spanish national police service have arrested four people who were planning to drop 400 litres of an unidentified liquid on the road during stage 3 of the Vuelta a España.

In a video posted to the Policía Nacional Twitter account, officers are shown dismantling a set-up of drums and tubes that had been placed on a bridge above the stage 3 route from Súria to Andorra.

“With this system they intended to sabotage yesterday's stage of #LaVuelta23,” the Tweet alongside the video read.

“Two drums with 400 litres of liquid that they intended to throw on the road as the peloton passed. Four people arrested red-handed in Lleida.”

The video also shows four people being led into what appears to be the police headquarters in Lleida, just west of the stage start in Súria.

A separate statement from the police, reported by Reuters, said that the liquid was “similar to motor oil”. Reuters also reported that a “police source” said the individuals were members of a Catalan independence group.

| Vuelta director apologises for Evenepoel finish line crash

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Remco Evenepoel rode stage 4 with the red jersey and an added dressing after crashing after the line on Monday

Vuelta a España race director Javier Guillén offered his apologies this morning for the circumstances that caused Remco Evenepoel’s finish line crash on stage 3, stating that the organisation at the finish could have been managed better.

Evenepoel won the stage in Arinsal but was on the ground and bloodied just minutes after celebrating, having collided with the crowd of assembled team and organisation staff just past the finish line.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Guillén said the race organisation would “look into” what happened surrounding the Belgian’s crash.

“We regret what happened at the finish line and we apologise. We will look into it,” he said.

“Everything had gone well. We had a little incident with Evenepoel just after he crossed the line. Possibly the management could have been done better. Organisational issues cannot be escaped.”

Evenepoel’s post-stage crash came after a slightly tarnished opening weekend for the Vuelta organisers, which included poor conditions and limited visibility during the evening team time trial on stage 1 and rider frustration over weather and neutralisations on the wet second stage.

| Marianne Vos ends season after third iliac artery surgery

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Marianne Vos won't race in Jumbo-Visma colours on the road again this season

Marianne Vos has ended her 2023 season after undergoing iliac artery surgery last week for an ongoing issue in her left leg.

In an Instagram post on Monday, the Dutch rider explained how she had been experiencing pain and a lack of power in her leg, and that her symptoms were not improving.

Vos had iliac surgery in 2020 and again in February this year, but neither appears to have fully alleviated the problem. Iliac artery endofibrosis is a condition that affects many cyclists.

“I have been struggling with pain and lack in power of my left leg for a long period of time,” Vos wrote. “This season symptoms became worse and it wasn't easy that I couldn't overcome it.

“My biggest hope for now is to be able to return to competition without symptoms. I would love to continue riding and racing at the highest level and will surely do my utterly best to be back.”

Her last race was the World Championships road race two weeks ago, where she finished 47th. She had previously abandoned the penultimate stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift after being unable to repeat her stage-winning success from 2022.

| Remco Evenepoel told team that ‘Ineos bullshit had to stop’, says Lefevere

*by Patrick Fletcher in Spain

In recent times, it has seemed that Remco Evenepoel and Patrick Lefevere have been singing from different hymn sheets, but the Soudal Quick-Step boss says he “heard the things he wanted to hear” from his young star in a speech made to his teammates ahead of the Vuelta a España.

Despite having a contract through 2026, Evenepoel has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the Belgian team, with Ineos Grenadiers reportedly showing a persistent interest, and rumours of a rift between Lefevere and Evenepoel’s father, who’s also his agent.

In recent weeks, there has even been speculation over a potential sale of the team or a merger with Ineos.

“There must be so little news, I think, for the press, because everyone jumps on this and makes it bigger,” Lefevere told GCN at the Vuelta in Barcelona. “They make an elephant from a mouse, they start a fantasy. I’m so long in cycling - do you really think I need this?”

Lefevere revealed that Evenepoel had referenced the speculation over his future in a speech given to his teammates on the eve of his title defence at the Vuelta. “He got the team together in the afternoon, he did a speech, and he blew everyone away,” said Lefevere, before paraphrasing.

“‘To have trust, that we can win, that everybody has to stop about this bullshit, that he trusts his teammates’. They were the things I wanted to hear."

Read the full story here.

| Lotto Dstny set to ride Orbea bikes after 12 years on Ridley, Belgian media reports

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This will the last season that Lotto Dstny spend riding Ridley bikes

Belgian team Lotto Dstny will switch to Orbea bikes for the 2024 season and end their 12-year relationship with Ridley, Het Laatste Nieuws reported today.

The UCI ProTeam level have been riding Ridley bikes, a Belgian manufacturer, since 2012, but recent seasons have brought reports of reduced financial contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic and situations where riders had to use old equipment.

The current contract with Ridley was renewed in 2022, and was set to run until the end of 2024.

However, they are expected to break this contract and move to Orbea bikes, a Basque-owned company, for 2024 and beyond.

Lotto Dstny later confirmed the news, though without commenting on the reported deal with Orbea.

“Lotto Dstny confirms that the team will no longer be racing on Ridley Bikes in 2024,” a statement read. “Seen the recent passing of Tijl De Decker and the impact it has on the team, we do not wish to give any interviews about that for the moment.

“However, the team would like to emphasize the good cooperation it’s had with Ridley over all those years.”

The team were reportedly linked with several brands when considering the move, with their riders trying out various options. HLN reported that their star rider, Arnaud De Lie, was hesitant to extend his contract - which he did last week - until the new bike sponsor was confirmed.

The move will mark Orbea’s return to pro cycling team sponsorship after a short absence from the peloton, having last supplied bikes to B&B Hotels in 2018 and 2019. Their most famous partnership, however, is the one with Basque team Euskaltel, who rode Orbea bikes between 1994 and 2013.