Jai Hindley over the moon with "once-in-a-career opportunity" to race World Championships at home

After winning the Giro d'Italia earlier this year, Jai Hindley's season was an unstoppable success. He's geared up for the Vuelta a Espana where he raced strongly but could only finish in tenth position, but has decided to finish his season at home in the Wollongong World Championships.

“It’s like a once-in-a-career opportunity to do the worlds on home soil," Hindley said in a post race interview. "The atmosphere is electric out there, the fans are incredible. It was awesome. I really hope that it boosts the sport in Australia and gets it a bit more exposure. I mean, I think I speak for all of the boys when I say that we had a really fun time. It was so cool."

The BORA - hansgrohe rider got Covid-19 the week before the race, but was cleared to be a part of it, with a role mainly as a domestique for Michael Matthews who was perfectly suited to the course. “I wasn’t too sure how the body would react after COVID but I knew that I had the Vuelta in the legs and that was good preparation for coming here," he said.

"Fortunately, I had pretty light symptoms and I could recover quick, and I could get back on the bike. It was nice and it was a pretty epic day out there today and it was super hard. I was happy that I could play a bit of a role and help the guys up the road. To have Bling [Michael Matthews] on the podium is pretty incredible. On home soil, it’s pretty special," Hindley told reporters.

He was briefly present in the decisive attack that saw Remco Evenepoel build a gap over the peloton, but like all other group companions, he was caught by it before the finish. “I was happy to be there and take a bit of pressure off. Remco is a pretty incredible rider. He’s just come off a Vuelta win, a TT medal earlier this week, he’s a special rider and I think everyone in that group knew that he would be very hard to follow," he said of the winner. 

"It was a bit like survival mode, I was just trying to mark him on the coast, but it was pretty bloody hard. It was killing me every time I had to follow him. He was the strongest guy on the day," he added. Hindley was then dropped from the group as it split in the final ascents of Mount Pleasant. “At that point, I was about to pass out, I was so buckled. When his group came, I just tried to go as hard as I could, and then I was completely caput. It’s like that. It was a super hard race and I’m happy that I could be at the pointy end and play a role," he described.

Hindley finished the race in 49th place, but was all-in-all happy with his performance and season. “It was probably my best year to date, with the Giro win and a stage win. I still can’t believe it. It still hasn’t sunk in and probably never will. It was just a nice year personally, especially after such a tough year last year to change to a new team and win a grand tour in my first year with the team was really cool. I appreciate the opportunities they gave me throughout the year," he said.

“To come to Australia and finish the season with the world championships is also pretty special. I’m looking forward to sinking a few beers tonight and putting my feet up on the couch," the Australian concluded.