Sept 1 (Reuters) - Geoffrey Soupe came out on top in the predicted sprint finish to win a crash-ridden stage seven of the Vuelta a Espana on Friday.
"I didn't think it was possible to win a stage because it's really, really, really fast in the sprint," Soupe said.
"Yet today it's really nervous in the final (sprint), we have a lot of roundabouts, a lot of wind also.
Groves, winner of stages four and five, managed to win the intermediate sprint to maintain his grip on the Green jersey.
An earlier crash saw Geraint Thomas and Kim Heiduk of Ineos Grenadiers involved, with the Welshman needing treatment before returning to the bunch.
Persons:
Geoffrey Soupe, Aular, Edward Theuns, Kaden Groves, it's, Soupe, Sepp Kuss, Thymen Arensman, Oliva, Ander Okamika, Jose Herrada, Herrada, Okamika, Groves, Frenchman Lenny Martinez, Marc Soler, Geraint Thomas, Kim Heiduk, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris
Organizations:
Ineos Grenadiers, Thomson
Locations:
Utiel, Burgos, Denia, Xorret