Jai Hindley has made Australian cycling history by finishing third in the Giro d'Italia, becoming only the second Australian to achieve three overall Grand Tour podium finishes. The Red Bull BORA-hansgrohe rider, who won the race in 2022 and was runner-up in 2021, completed his set of Giro podiums in Rome on Sunday.
The 30-year-old from Perth overcame illness during the race, requiring antibiotics in the second week, before a remarkable third-week resurgence propelled him into third place overall on stage 19. He finished 6 minutes 25 seconds behind overall winner Jonas Vingegaard and 1 minute 3 seconds adrift of runner-up Felix Gall.
Vingegaard dominated the 109th Giro, claiming five stage wins and securing his fourth Grand Tour title, having previously won the Tour de France twice and the Vuelta a España. The final stage was a largely processional affair into Rome, with Italian Jonathan Milan winning the sprint.
“I haven’t had a good result in a Grand Tour for a long time, and to be fighting for the podium again was really nice,” said Hindley. “For me, the Grand Tours are the pinnacle of cycling, and being competitive in them is what I train for.”
Hindley’s feat places him behind only Cadel Evans among Australians, with five Grand Tour podiums. The race saw no Australian stage winner for only the second time in a decade, but four Australians finished in the top 17, including Michael Storer in seventh, Ben O’Connor in 16th, and Chris Harper in 17th.
