Given that many climbers weigh less than 65 kg, Kaden Groves’ 76 kg weight may seem excessive for a professional cyclist, but his performance continuously demonstrates that strength and speed can coexist peacefully. Groves has used his body to his advantage, especially in sprint finishes and power-dependent stages. His frame is highly functional rather than constrained by his capacity to produce massive wattage in brief bursts.
Groves has shown a remarkable ability to strike a balance between raw power and tactical accuracy over the last three seasons. In addition to winning flat sprints, he has also won stages with categorized climbs and rolling terrain. His victory on the 2025 Tour de France’s Stage 20 was especially noteworthy. Groves eliminated all doubt about his versatility by launching a solo attack on a stage that featured a Category 2 climb, holding off the chasers, and winning the race.
Kaden Groves – Athlete Profile
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kaden Groves |
| Date of Birth | 23 December 1998 |
| Age | 26 |
| Birthplace | Gympie, Queensland, Australia |
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Weight | 76 kg (168 lb) |
| Discipline | Road Cycling |
| Rider Type | Sprinter with strong climbing ability |
| Current Team | Alpecin–Deceuninck |
| Notable Wins | Vuelta a España, Giro d’Italia, Tour de France stages |
| Official Profile Link |
Groves distinguishes himself from his peers with a hill score of 89 and a sprinting score of 93. These figures demonstrate his ability to endure challenging terrain and still compete for victory, even though he may not be a true climber. His weight, which is frequently questioned in the sport, is just a component of an extremely effective system that also includes explosive speed, strength, and endurance.
Groves has broadened the definition of what a sprinter is capable of by embracing his body’s full potential. By performing in a greater variety of terrains, riders like him, Mathieu van der Poel, and Wout van Aert are actively redefining boundaries. Being heavier than the average GC competitor, which at one point seemed like a compromise, is now thought to be especially advantageous in contemporary race profiles with their undulating finales and technical sprints.
Groves’ professional path also exemplifies a noteworthy development in professional cycling: the rise in hybrid athletes. Riders are no longer limited to a single archetype. Groves, who weighs 76 kg, can keep up with time trialists over medium distances and routinely outperform lighter climbers on rolling terrain. Although his time trial score of 27 may not be the highest on the charts, he has made significant progress in his ability to lead out and tactically read races.
Groves has amassed an impressive resume since making his debut as the junior champion at the Australian National Road Race Championships in 2016. His achievements in the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España, and the Giro d’Italia highlight his development and consistency. These victories weren’t limited to simple, level routes. Several featured challenging profiles that called for fortitude and skillful racecraft. For example, he demonstrated his remarkable versatility by winning the points classification title and three stages at the 2024 Vuelta a España.
In the last ten years, the focus on climbing skills has frequently eclipsed sprinting ability. Groves, however, has blazed a trail that demonstrates that being strong and a little heavier can still lead to dominance in stage races. He is not limited by his weight; rather, it gives him the ability to build momentum, sustain fast speeds, and recuperate swiftly in between bursts of energy. Because of this, his strength score of 86 is given more weight than the scale’s actual value.
Groves provides a novel viewpoint for both fans and critics. He is creating a new mold rather than attempting to fit into an existing one. His ability to play to his strengths and adjust to different race demands serves as a reminder that conventional expectations need not define successful athletes. He frequently astounds with his endurance over longer distances and is incredibly dependable in sprint situations.
This flexibility also applies to classics and one-day races. He finished on the podium in the Münsterland Giro and the Famenne Ardenne Classic in 2023, and he won the Volta Limburg Classic. Groves continuously exhibits the tactical acuity and physical toughness required by each of these races. He uses his weight as a tool in his strategic toolbox rather than as a disadvantage.
Groves’ accomplishments also point to a larger change in cycling. Riders who can compete in a variety of race formats are now the focus of teams’ lineups. Particularly creative riders—those who blend speed, endurance, and positional intelligence—are emerging as key members of their teams. Groves is the ideal fit for this changing standard because it is remarkably resilient and consistently competitive.
Groves’ accomplishments provide a case study in the performance culture of today, where training regimens are dominated by marginal gains. He embodies a racing philosophy that combines calculated risk-taking with the aggression of traditional sprinting. He demonstrates that the modern rider needs to be versatile, whether he is negotiating chaotic finishes or pushing solo ahead of the pack.
Groves is making progress by concentrating on his core skills and keeping a weight that promotes both climbing durability and sprinting power. As a rider who has achieved success by building muscle where it counts and having faith in the process, he serves as a relatable benchmark for aspiring cyclists.
