Kaden Groves Stuns with Solo Victory on Rain-Soaked Stage 20 of Tour de France
So, what a day it’s been at the Tour de France! Stage 20 delivered some serious drama, and at the center of it all was Australian cyclist Kaden Groves, who pulled off the biggest win of his career in truly unforgettable fashion. On a hilly 184.2-kilometer stage from Nantua to Pontarlier — and in some seriously awful weather — Groves launched a solo attack 16 kilometers from the finish line and held it all the way, claiming his first-ever stage win at the Tour de France.
This is a guy known more for his sprinting abilities, someone usually expected to win in bunch finishes. But today, Groves flipped the script. After a chaotic and crash-filled descent off the Côte de Longeville — just 24 kilometers from the finish — he saw his opportunity and absolutely went for it. A couple of riders, including France's Romain Grégoire and Spain’s Iván Romeo, went down hard on the slick roads, which scattered the front group and opened the door for Groves. Despite being under pressure and with the rain hammering down, he powered ahead alone and never looked back.
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By the time he crossed the line, Groves was nearly a full minute ahead of his closest chaser, Frank van den Broek. And honestly, the emotion was written all over his face — tears, disbelief, pure joy. This win meant everything. You could feel the relief too. Groves had already picked up stage wins at the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, so all eyes had been on him to prove he could do it on cycling’s biggest stage. And now he has. He’s officially won a stage in all three Grand Tours — something only 114 riders in history have achieved.
What makes it even more impressive is that Groves wasn’t originally supposed to be the team’s main man. He started the Tour as a support rider for Alpecin-Deceuninck’s stars — Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel — but Philipsen crashed out early and Van der Poel withdrew due to pneumonia. That left the door wide open, and Groves, quite literally, rode through it alone in the pouring rain.
Meanwhile, the overall race leader, Tadej Pogačar, played it safe in the peloton and is now all but confirmed to take his fourth Tour de France title in six years. Sunday’s final ride into Paris is expected to be ceremonial, although a bit of extra spice has been added with three climbs of Montmartre in the finale.
But for today, the spotlight belongs to Kaden Groves. From a support role to solo stage winner — in brutal conditions, on unfamiliar terrain — it was a breakout moment that will be remembered for years to come.
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