Australian cyclist Jay Vine has claimed his second Tour Down Under title despite a dramatic crash caused by a kangaroo during the final stage. The UAE Team Emirates rider overcame the incident, which also forced teammate Mikkel Bjerg out of the race, to maintain his overall lead.
Vine, who also won the event in 2023, entered the last stage with a commanding one minute and three second advantage. Despite losing two more teammates during the stage, his buffer proved sufficient. British sprinter Matthew Brennan of Visma-Lease A Bike secured the stage win.
The race was disrupted by protests against sponsor Santos, resulting in four arrests. The final stage was the longest in Tour history at 169.8km, featuring eight laps in the Adelaide Hills with temperatures in the 30s Celsius and 3,436 metres of climbing.
Compatriot Pat Jonker remains the only other Tour winner to win by more than a minute, with a 1min 13sec margin in 2004. Australian Luke Plapp and Rob Stannard were part of a breakaway that was caught on the final lap, while Harry Sweeny finished third overall.
