The Australian Hindley reached for the crown at the Giro d'Italia two years ago. But at the last time trial he stumbles. Again the first Grand Tour of the year ends with a fight against the clock. But the 26-year-old withstood the pressure and ensured the greatest triumph of his German team.
Jai Hindley celebrated his extraordinary success in special company: Just in time for his big coup at the 105th Giro d'Italia, the parents of the 26-year-old Australian professional cyclist flew from their home country to Italy to celebrate the first overall victory of a rider in a Tour of Italy in Verona to cheer from Down Under. In the city in the north-east of the country, the 26-year-old professional from the German Bora-hansgrohe racing team completed the overall victory in the final individual time trial.
"It's an unbelievable feeling, with great emotions. Of course, I had 2020 in the back of my mind and I was a little afraid of losing the jersey," said an overwhelmed Hindley afterwards, adding: "I'm a proud Australian and I'm really happy."
Two years ago, Hindley was the overall leader in the final Giro time trial in Milan, but had to cede the triumph to Briton Tao Gheoghan Hart. This time Hindley didn't let the Maglia Rosa be taken away from him and achieved his greatest success to date as a professional cyclist in the Verona Arena - and the first overall victory in a Grand Tour for his Bora-hansgrohe team.
In the end, Hindley was able to hold his ground in front of Richard Carapaz from Ecuador with 1:18 minutes. Hindley had taken the pink jersey from the road Olympic champion and overall Giro winner in 2019 the day before at the Fedaia Pass. Third place on the podium went to Spaniard Mikel Landa, 3:24 behind Hindley.
The day's victory in Verona after 17.4 kilometers in a fight against the clock went to the Italian Matteo Sobrero ahead of the two Dutchmen Thymen Arensman and Mathieu van der Poel. The best German was Lennard Kämna, 1:31 minutes behind Sobrero in 13th place. Hindley was two places behind, 15th in the daily ranking.
But not only Hindley, who in addition to the overall victory was also able to celebrate victory in the ultra-difficult ninth stage on the Blockhaus, caused the team from Raubling in Upper Bavaria to celebrate. Emanuel Buchmann finished seventh overall, 13:19 minutes behind Hindley as the second Bora professional in the top 10. The 29-year-old Ravensburger made it into the top 10 of a big tour for the second time after his fourth place in the 2019 Tour de France . From a German point of view, Dietrich Thurau had done better at the Giro in fifth place in 1983.
Compatriot and teammate Kämna had already ensured the only German day victory at the first major national tour of the year on the fourth stage on Mount Etna. "I had an extremely difficult preparation with many setbacks. I'm not at my absolute top level, but I'm doing quite well. And I also see it positively that I was able to ride at a good level for three weeks without a serious fall and without illnesses." said Buchman.
