For the first time in his career, BORA - hansgrohe's Jai Hindley is set to take on the Tour de France later this year. As a former Giro d'Italia winner, the Australian has Yellow Jersey dreams.
"This first week is going to be really tough. It could be a bit different to what we normally see in the first week of the Tour.” the 27-year-old revealed in an interview with SBS Sport Australia. “The stages in the Basque country will be really solid over really hard terrain. The first stage is pretty much a one-day race, then stages 5 and 6 are already proper GC days I reckon with some really high climbs. Stage 6, you’re already doing the Tourmalet and the Aspin in the first week, so it’s pretty serious. I’m looking forward to it.”
As mentioned despite being a former Giro d'Italia winner, Hindley has never previously competed for the Maillot Jaune. “This year’s route is as good as it gets for a rider like me,” said Hindley, explaining his decision to compete with the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. “There’s lots of climbing, and a hard first week so already the GC is pretty well-established after the first week of racing. There’s only one time trial which is also not super long and it is a bit lumpy. For me, I was super excited when I saw the route and I’m really keen.”
Hindley opted against returning to Italy to defend his title and admits the feeling was strange seeing the Giro d'Italia on TV after being front and centre for the last 4 years. “It was pretty tough to watch at times,” he admits. “I’ve done it for the last four years, it’s always been my big goal for the season, so to not do it is pretty strange. It’s probably one of my favourite races, in that aspect it was hard not to be there.”
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