Jay Vine has delivered a sterling result for the ARA Australian Cycling Team, winning the silver medal in the individual time trial at the UCI World Championships.
Vine, 29, put in an assured performance across the hilly 40km route in Kigali, Rwanda.
At the second and third intermediate checks, the Canberran had comfortably beaten the previous best times. When he reached the finish atop Kigali’s cobbled climb, Vine stopped the clock over a minute ahead of his nearest rival, putting himself in the virtual hot seat until the final riders arrived.
Simon Wilkinson / SWpix.com
In the end, it took a special performance from the defending champion, Remco Evenepoel of Belgium, to wrest the top spot from Vine.
After crashing in last year’s World Championship, where he finished fifth, today’s result is confirmation of Vine’s ability on this stage.
“I’m really happy with the performance,” Vine said. “I knew that I had this sort of performance in myself from last year at a world title level. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to bring it home last year, but I’m really happy to be able to bring it home this year.
Simon Wilkinson / SWpix.com
“A silver against, now the three-time world champ, I’m pretty happy with that.
“It’s an incredible feeling representing your country at the world level. To bring back a silver medal – it’s not the one I wanted to bring back – but it’s a good consolation prize. So, I’m really happy about bringing the medal home.
“Thank you to all the staff and the people in the background that got me here, and of course my family, for letting me come away to achieve this.”
Alex Whitehead / SWpix.com
Vine adds this silver medal to his world championship victories in cycling esports in 2022, and in the mixed relay team time trial with Australia last year.
By finishing in seventh place, Victoria’s Luke Plapp ensured Australia placed two riders in the top 10.
Vien and Plapp will link up for Australia's title defence in the team time trial on Wednesday, along with Brodie Chapman, who finished fourth in the women’s race earlier today.
Results - Men Elite Individual Time Trial
🥇 Remco Evenepoel (BEL) 49:46.03
🥈 Jay Vine (AUS) +1:14.80
🥉 Ilan van Wilder (BEL) +2:36.07
7. Luke Plapp (AUS) +3:03.34
Feature photo: Alex Whitehead / SWpix.com