Kaden Groves, considered Australia’s best chance for a stage win at the Giro d’Italia, has withdrawn from the race following injuries from a crash on the opening day. Groves was involved in a mass crash just 600 metres from the finish line during the first stage in Bulgaria, leading to bruising on his shoulder and neck. Although he initially downplayed his injuries, he was unable to recover sufficiently to continue racing. This withdrawal comes after fellow Australian Jay Vine also exited the race due to a concussion and a broken elbow from a separate crash on stage two. With Groves out, Francesco Busato will now lead the Alpecin Premier-Tech team as their main sprinter. Groves, who had hoped to surpass Caleb Ewan’s 11 Grand Tour stage wins, had just returned from a two-month break due to knee issues. The Giro continues with challenging stages ahead, including significant climbs that could shake up the standings.