La Vuelta 2022 Stage 11 as it happened: Groves sprints to win as Alaphilippe crashes out

"It feels fantastic. This morning, with the news of Simon Yates going positive for Covid, all the boys were pretty disappointed. This is the best way to bounce back after such bad news. I'm really happy to celebrate but I also wish he was here because he's part of this team. I've got to thank all the guys - Luke [Durbridge] for riding all day. Then we set up early - we thought there was going to be a crosswind, which there wasn't. We were first team until the final four kilometres and the guys did a perfect job keeping me on the front and fresh. I was fresher than the other guys and was in the right position to do my sprint. Being my first Grand Tour win, it for sure takes the cake - and there are still more stages to come."

1. Kaden Groves (BikeExchange-Jayco)
2. Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe)
3. Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
4. Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates)
5. Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo)
6. Daniel McLay (Arkea-Samsic)
7. John Degenkolb (Team DSM)
8. Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious)
9. Cedric Beullens (Lotto Soudal)
10. Boy van Poppel (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert)

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) was 12th and Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) was 15th.

The Australian's rivals came from out of his wheel at speed so he had it all to do on the home straight. He accelerated onto the slipstream of Dan McLay, pegged back John Degenkolb and then held off Danny van Poppel and Tim Merlier to take a superb win.

And that was a thoroughly deserved win for BikeExchange-Jayco who had a plan and executed it to the letter there as Kaden Groves zips to a maiden Grand Tour stage win. Talk about bouncing straight back from the disappointment of Simon Yates's withdrawal...

The road is straight and hugs the coast for 3km all the way to the line - making for a real slugfest on the front. Bahrain and Alpecin are on the front now, with Arkea-Samsic readying themselves for McLay, but BikeExchange still sbiffing around.

The Australian team have three riders leading out Kaden Groves and they're taking the lead now - although Bahrain Victorious are also in the mix, with Fred Wright perhaps thinking of going for it?

Movistar and Quick-Step, too. I guess it will be this way until 3km to go when the magic marker is passed and the sprinters' teams will come to the fore.

The wind hasn't really materialised but it's still quite a battle on the front as the various endgames of numerous teams and riders come together in one large washing machine in the Spanish sun.

To be fair, no one really contested the Dane for the points, with Bora's Ryan Mullen rolling over in his wheel. But now that is out of the way, the proper battle for the sprint spoils at the finish will begin.

I completely forgot that Bryan 'Le Coq Sportif' Coquard is at this race. To be fair, it's been so long since the last sprint that it's easy to overlook most of the sprinters. The pace is still slow - and the front of the pack flat - ahead of the intermediate sprint at Ruescas, which is coming right up.

There's a slight lull in proceedings ahead of the intermediate sprint. Ineos Grenadiers, Movistar and Quick-Step have edged towards the front alongside many of the sprinters' teams - probably to keep their GC men out of trouble in the event of possible winds.

There's been no sign of UAE Team Emirates today so it will be interesting to see if their German sprinter contests for the win. He came fifth and ninth in the previous sprints so he's clearly not in the best form - but he could turn that round today, with the help of pilot Juan Molano.

The Dutchman will win the combativity award but he won't be contesting for that elusive win at the finish. It will be interesting to see if anyone tries their luck in a counter move or if the sprinters' teams will control this from here on in. BikeExchange-Jayco care certainly motivated for Kadel Groves - they have around five men on the front.

Lone leader Jetse Bol is really flagging now as he tackles the steepest of these uncategorised climbs that takes the riders inland for a little loop before the seaside finish at Cabo de Gata. The Dutchman's lead is down to 35 seconds as he starts a very steep double-digit descent, which strings out the peloton - a peloton which will be on red alert later on in the expected crosswinds coming off the sea ahead of the sprint finish.

Bora-Hansgrohe, Trek-Segafredo, Arkea-Samsic, Alpecin-Deceuninck and BikeExchange-Jayco have all sent one man on the front ahead of the depleted Quick-Step train of red jersey Remco Evenepoel, to work for their respective sprinters Danny van Poppel, Mads Pedersen, Daniel McLay, Tim Merlier and Kaden Groves. Lone leader Jetse Bol's advantage comes down to one minute. A reminder that Julian Alaphilippe was forced to abandon a little earlier after a crash that came from nowhere.

Vojcech Repa and then Joan Bou are caught by the bunch leaving Jetse Bol as the only man up the road as we approach the business end of this seemingly interminable stage. His added urgency has seen the gap grow to 1'50" - a gap that will surely tumble once the sprinters' teams get their act together and turn on the gas.

The Dutchman decides that the time is right to roll the dice. With the peloton closing the gap to just over a minute, Jetse Bol dances clear of Repa and Bou to open up a small gap over his fellow escapees.