Jai Hindley has once again proven his mettle in the "pinnacle of cycling," making history as just the second Australian to achieve three overall podium finishes in Grand Tours. He secured a valiant third place at the 2026 Giro d'Italia, adding to his previous wins and runner-up finishes.
Hindley's Historic Achievement
The 30-year-old Red Bull BORA-hansgrohe rider, who won the Giro in 2022 and finished second in 2021, now joins the ranks of Cadel Evans, the only Australian with more Grand Tour podiums (five). Hindley's consistent performance underscores his status as one of Australia's greatest cyclists.
Race Highlights
New champion Jonas Vingegaard dominated the 109th Giro with five stage wins, confirming his place among cycling's elite by completing his set of Grand Tour triumphs. Hindley, despite battling illness that required antibiotics in the second week, staged a remarkable recovery to move into third place on stage 19.
On the final day, Italian Jonathan Milan won the sprint into Rome, while Vingegaard secured his fourth Grand Tour. Hindley finished 6 minutes 25 seconds behind Vingegaard and 1:03 behind runner-up Felix Gall of Austria.
Australian Presence
Although no Australian won a stage for the first time in a decade, four Australians finished in the top 17: Michael Storer (7th), Ben O'Connor (16th), and Chris Harper (17th). Hindley's performance was a highlight after early abandonments by Kaden Groves and Jay Vine due to crashes.
Reflecting on his achievement, Hindley said, "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. For me, the Grand Tours are the pinnacle of cycling, and being competitive in them is what I train for."
