Jay Vine is likely the most prominent figure in the current peloton that has emerged through the ranks via e-racing, and in a recent interview he has exposed his opinions on the topic and how the talent seen in online racing can translate to the pro peloton.
“My wife was the breadwinner during that period, because I was chasing my cycling dream," Vine said in an interview with RIDE Magazine. "We could not sustain this construction for much longer. But I was convinced that I was one of the best climbers in the Australian national circuit.” Vine turned pro in 2020 but was in a small Australian team without much reputation to his name.
All that changed at the end of the year as he won the Zwift Academy competition, which has earned him a position in the Pro Continental outfit of Alpecin-Deceuninck where he would suddenly become teammate of riders such as Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier.
“If I focused entirely on the Zwift Academy, I had a good chance of enforcing a selection for the final. For three months I rode myself completely to the beasts to be good. I think I was the fittest, lightest and most focused Zwift participant," he described. The effort paid off, and with his talent broadcast to the world, he had found the necessary exposure to show off his climbing talent.
“Sometimes Zwift looks a bit like real racing, also thanks to the use of drafts, for example. It's not rocket science either. You look at the side of your screen: if there are red numbers there, you know you're going to have a hard time," he continued. "If they are not there, then it is somewhat easier. Just like in a road race you can't ride all the time from the front, because then you won't win. Still, you can't really compare Zwift with the real situation. Training on watts per kilogram is meaningless if you don't ride uphill.”
Vine showed talent in 2021 at races such as the Tour of Turkey, Vuelta a Burgos and Vuelta a Espana where it was apparent he had the legs to perform well, but was visibly lacking the consistency. This continued to be the case in early 2022 with standout performances at Etoile de Bessèges and Volta ao Algarve. Second places at the Tour of Turkey and Tour of Norway - behind Remco Evenepoel - showed he was on the right track, but his breakthrough at the Vuelta a Espana was above all expectations.
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“Now don't think that this is some kind of new road to the pros. That may be possible, but not without racing experience. You have to master technique," he said. He won the opening two mountaintop stages, the second from a breakaway, but the first directly beating the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Enric Mas and Primoz Roglic who battled for the red jersey throughout three weeks. He was set to win the KOM classification in fact, but his race was cut short with a crash in the final week.
“You will certainly find athletes with big engines via Zwift. But you need more than that. And Zwift does not allow you to find Tim Declercqs," Vine argued. Whilst in climbing the format of e-racing will often reveal strong talents, the Australian is keen to point out that other types of riders - such as classics specialists, sprinters and many who could be considered domestiques - are not easily found the same way.
"You don't find types like him specifically via watts per kilogram and eRacing. If I look at myself: with Zwift alone I would not have been a professional – or not for long," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
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