Was that strong, sudden Vuelta a blessing or a curse for silver medalist Jay Vine in the World Championship Time Trial?

'A big redemption,' was the Aussie's response to our question about what this silver medal means to him. 'Last year I couldn't grab a medal, so this is definitely a relief.' Vine was also on medal course in Zurich in 2024, but an ugly fall at the time scuppered his dreams.

“This World Championship has been a goal for me since we found out about the course. I knew it was perfect for me: the altitude, the heat, and the aero climbing,” he explains. “I came out of the Vuelta in good shape, and I'm glad I was able to show that here as well.”

Vine had meticulously prepared for the World Championships time trial, but at the end of July, he was suddenly told that he would have to start in the Vuelta a España four weeks later. Was the Spanish tour, in which he won two stages and the mountain jersey, an advantage or a disadvantage? “We'll never know,” he says, leaving it open.

“Otherwise, I would have spent three weeks at altitude in Andorra. Four weeks before the Vuelta, we had to change our plans because I was suddenly called up for my second Grand Tour of the season,” he continues. “I had to adjust to that, as you could see from my results in the Clasica San Sebastian. But things went well in the Vuelta and I've been able to continue that form.”

“This result makes me incredibly proud. I would have loved to finish first, but there was no way I could beat Remco here,” he continues. “The time trial is my favorite discipline, and I'm proud to take silver, but I also need to find a way to win. Over the past two years, I've finished second about eight times, but I never managed to win. That's pretty rough.”

This Sunday, Vine will also compete in the Road World Championships. “First, I'm going to enjoy this achievement with the Australian team. On Monday, I'll get back on my road bike, because I haven't ridden it since Madrid. We'll find a nice coffee shop and then get ready for the Mixed Relay and the road race.”