Giro abandon Jay Vine shares update: 'The concussion symptoms have improved'

"A few weeks after the Giro, it’s nice to finally be on the right side," Jay Vine begins his long Instagram message. The UAE rider has made a habit of speaking at length, and so it is good to hear from him again two weeks after his heavy crash — and subsequent abandonment — in the Giro d’Italia.

It was only the second stage of the Giro d’Italia, but that heavy crash is still likely fresh in many people’s minds. UAE lost leader Adam Yates, teammate Marc Soler and then Vine as well, with the Australian slamming into the guardrail. He was taken away in an ambulance, and a concussion was diagnosed.

That was the end of the Giro for Vine, who has already had more than his fair share of setbacks in his career. This year has also not gone smoothly, with crashes in Australia and Catalonia before this latest setback in Italy. "Two weeks after the Giro, things are finally starting to go in the right direction," says the climber from Townsville.

"The concussion symptoms have improved, the metrics and SCAT protocols are showing good progress and, most importantly, I feel good again. I’m very happy with how things are going," he says positively. "My elbow has also recovered much faster than my old scaphoid, which means I’ve already been able to do a few easy rides outside".

And that is good to hear after yet another setback for Vine. "Honestly, this year has been mentally tough. Every time things seem to be moving in the right direction, another setback comes along, and when so much of it is completely outside your control, you get pretty used to it".

Even so, he is not letting it get the better of him. "But that doesn’t change anything. Team Vine is fully behind me and helping me process everything and plan the next steps." And now? "For now, though, the focus is at home, with Bre almost at her due date. Baby number two gets absolute priority in the coming period," he adds with some wonderful news.