“Australian of the year ” - McEwen after Hindley’s win

Jai Hindley became the first Australian rider to win Giro d'Italia last weekend, topping off a great three weeks of racing with a dominant effort on the critical mountain stage to Passo Fedaia, and then holding on handily in the time trial to capture the overall win in Verona.

It left McEwen full of praise for his compatriot as he reveled in his success on The Breakaway.

“I would say Jai, mate, we are so incredibly proud of you and also what his teammates did for him,” said McEwen.

Robbie McEwen even named Jai Hindley “Australian of the year” after his heroic victory at the Giro d’Italia.

“Nobody does it alone. Not just the teammates on the road, but the entire team around him. But Jai, you are the Australian of the year! ”

“What a moment for Jai Hindley, his family, friends, teammates, everyone that’s had anything to do with him in his life getting him to this point. He’s just such a good advertisement for the sport.

“He’s a great guy and he’s just so humble as well. He didn’t ever assume it was all over and didn’t raise a hand in victory until he was well past the final finish line. It’s just so nice to see.”

“I think this will give Australian cycling another boost. It took off through the 2000s and when Cadel Evans won the Tour de France, it went nuts. I think this will give it another boost again, 11 years later.

“I can imagine his hometown in Perth painting the town pink!”

“I think everybody who's followed the Giro not only this year, but if you followed it when Jai Hindley lost the Giro on the final stage to Tao Geoghegan Hart... this is the redemption he needed going into this time trial from the same position." Except he had 1:25 up his sleeve as opposed to no seconds up his sleeve,” said McEwen.

“It is just such a good story. I was so happy for him. And after not only losing the Giro nearly two years ago in 2020 but the season he had in between he was nowhere in 2021. He had no explanation for the terrible year.

“So to bounce back, come back to form and then come back and win the Giro. It is just a fairytale for the boy from Perth and we're all really, really happy for him.”