Unlucky Jay Vine heads to the Giro without GC ambitions — but with one very clear target

Jay Vine's name came up repeatedly as a potential co-leader alongside Adam Yates at UAE Team Emirates-XRG following the withdrawal of João Almeida. The Australian immediately dismissed that speculation in conversation with Cyclingnews — but was equally clear about what his actual goals are at the Giro.

2026 has been a year of highs and lows for Vine. The Australian won the Tour Down Under on home soil, but was brought down by a kangaroo in the final stage. He broke his scaphoid — a wrist bone — in the incident, and the recovery dragged on for months. When he finally returned at the Volta a Catalunya, the bad luck struck again: another crash in stage three sent him back to square one with the same wrist.

Despite months of difficult recovery, Vine is on the start line of the Giro. On 18 April he shared an update on his own Instagram, saying the process had been long but that things were moving in the right direction. He confirmed as much ahead of the race. "I was at home with my family for a long time, so I'm mentally fresh."

The rehabilitation was nonetheless a draining experience. "Everything you do is focused on short and long-term goals, but outside of all the rehab there aren't many hours to just enjoy life." At this point, Vine is simply thrilled to be pinning on a race number again.

With Almeida absent, could Vine have a role as a classification rider? "I don't think that's something I'm going to do this race," he rules out. "Almeida's withdrawal hasn't changed my role within the team. It's a shame João isn't here, because I think he would have had a great chance. As a team, though, we do now have more opportunities."

Vine, who finished second at the World Championship time trial in 2025, has one unmistakable priority heading into his third Giro. "I'm really looking forward to the time trial in stage ten. Forty-two kilometres, completely flat. I've worked really hard for that — including with the Australian team in the summer." On paper, the UAE rider is one of the very few riders capable of challenging stage-ten favourite Filippo Ganna.

He is equally clear about what a successful Giro looks like for him. "First of all a good result in the time trial — but I'm also already looking forward to arriving in Rome and hopefully seeing my family again. That'll be great." No GC ambitions, then — but very definite ambitions in the race against the clock.