Top-5 finish for Jay Vine as crash ends Worlds podium hopes

Australia’s Jay Vine has finished fifth in the elite men’s individual time trial at the 2024 UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, despite suffering a crash late in the race.

The ARA Australian Cycling Team rider’s race ended in heartbreak as a crash in the final 10km saw him slip from a potential podium to finishing fifth overall.

 While the crash was not shown in the broadcast, as Vine crossed the finish line vision showed him riding with a bloodied face, rips on his skinsuit and dirt on his body.  

The 28-year-old showed from the outset of the 46.1km race he was still in excellent form following La Vuelta where he won the King of the Mountains jersey, passing the first checkpoint in fifth position.

He continued to gain time, moving into third at the second time check, and remained in podium contention with 10km to go, clocking the third fastest time at the third checkpoint.

It was a devastating end to the race for Vine, who has shown great form since coming back from a serious crash in April.

Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel (BEL) went on to make it back-to-back ITT world titles, with Italian riders Filippo Ganna and Edoardo Affini rounding out the podium. Joshua Tarling (UK) finished ahead of Vine in fourth.