"It was a bitter pill to swallow" - Jay Vine opens up about Vuelta a Espana crash and disappointment

Jay Vine suffered a hard crash that forced him to abandon the Vuelta a España. The talented UAE Team Emirates rider sent a message on his Instagram account in which he told what happened to him.

"It was a bitter pill to swallow," Vine said, recalling his experience on stage 6. On that stage, Vine was in the "winning breakaway" and was hopeful that he and his team could fight for the coveted red jersey. However, an unexpected mechanical failure sent him "flying down the road at 70 km/h," ending his dream of Vuelta dream.

Vine described how he spent 40 to 50 minutes on the side of the road, reflecting on the situation while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Despite initial anger and frustration, the Australian cyclist concluded that what hurt him most was that he had overcome numerous challenges throughout the season and was finally feeling at his best, both mentally and physically.

"This year has been a challenge," Vine admitted. "I started questioning whether I belonged in the peloton, but I finally sorted out my various health issues, have been working on my technical skills, have been working to minimize risks and finally started to feel like I belonged in the peloton again while having fun racing my bike."

The crash at the Vuelta a España not only represented a setback in Vine's career, but also left him in considerable physical pain. After hours in the hospital, Vine shared his experience in which he had a large wound in his elbow closed with 9 stitches, without local anesthesia, describing it as "the most painful hours I've ever spent in the hospital."

Despite the difficulties, Vine expressed his gratitude for the support he has received. He also highlighted the quick response and care of his team, who made sure he was in good hands at the hospital. As he prepares for an uncertain recovery in the coming days, Vine closes his statement with a message of thanks to his followers and fans, "I appreciate all the support, I love racing my bike and it's amazing and humbling that people support me."