Groves overcame the early disappointment of finishing a close second to Herald Sun Tour Stage 1 winner Alberto Dainese (Sunweb) and a fourth place at Race Torquay the only way a sprinter knows how. By winning.
“Kaden is a really hungry and determined rider," Mitchelton-Scott sports director Matt Wilson said after Groves' first Herald Sun Tour victory on Stage 3.
"He knew he wanted to get a win in Australia before he took off to Europe. He was very disappointed the first stage when he didn’t get it.
"Sprinters win on confidence – when they start winning, they keep winning – so that’s a great way to start the year.”
The 21-year-old former SEG Racing Academy rider echoed his director's thoughts after that stage.
“I’ve been trying to get the first win with the new team," Groves said. "The guys have been riding so well together that they really deserve this. Today was a perfect team effort so I’m pretty happy to repay them with a win.
And after the final stage yesterday, he again credited his team mates.
“The guys were perfect, keeping me fresh in every stage and delivering me to the finishes as smooth as possible. I think the results of the week are pretty good.”
Groves' team mate Damien Howson finished the Herald Sun Tour third overall.
“It’s always good to be on the podium here," Howson said. "Of course, I would have taken first, but I didn’t come here expecting to finish third either.
“That’s cycling, things change and you need to adapt to them so I’m happy we made the most of what we had and to finish with two stages with Kaden also makes it a successful week.”
It was a fruitful summer for the men and women of Mitchelton-Scott their success including:
1st Australian Time Trial Championship - Men (Luke Durbridge)
1st Australian Road Race Championship - Women (Amanda Spratt)
1st Australian Road Race Championship - Men (Cameron Meyer)
1st Women’s Tour Down Under - Stage 2 (Amanda Spratt)
1st Women’s Herald Sun Tour - Overall (Lucy Kennedy)
1st Jayco Herald Sun Tour - Stage 3 (Kaden Groves)
1st Jayco Herald Sun Tour - Stage 5 (Kaden Groves)
3rd Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Women (Amanda Spratt)
3rd Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Men (Daryl Impey)
3rd Women’s Herald Sun Tour - Stage 2 (Lucy Kennedy)
3rd Jayco Herald Sun Tour - Overall (Damien Howson)
