13/09/2022

Jai Hindley fails to back up Giro performance but rides into Top10 at Vuelta a Espana - "It's honestly been pretty tough to ride for GC at two Grand Tours in one season"

There were big expectations for Jai Hindley after he took a maiden Grand Tour win at the Giro d'Italia, however in Spain the Australian couldn't put on the same preparation as he had done earlier in the year, and had to settle with a tenth position in Madrid.

"I think we can be pleased with our performance at this Vuelta. We had two stage wins with Sam, and almost every day we raced competitively for good results," Hindley argued however. "We also took a few podium places and consistently tried to mix things up on the stages." With Sam Bennett showing better form, BORA - hansgrohe took a risk and brought in support for the Irishman, who won two stages before abandoning the race with Covid-19 on the second rest day. With Wilco Kelderman and Sergio Higuita struggling to perform in the opening week, all pressure seemed to be on Hindley who wasn't showing the same form he had at the Giro.

Thymen Arensman finishes Vuelta in impressive sixth place - "It is a successful Vuelta for me and for the team"

Whilst Kelderman jumped up the ranks in the second week with a breakaway, he crashed days later and Hindley became the only option again. The team could not take further wins, and although Hindley's form improved and he put on strong performances in the final weeks, he was unable to climb up the GC as the likes of Rigoberto Urán and Thymen Arensman benefited from breakaways to go past him, and then keep position until the end.

In terms of the general classification, I think it wasn't my very best race. However, I'm still happy to take a top 10 finish overall," Hindley said. "It's honestly been pretty tough to ride for GC at two Grand Tours in one season. However, in the team there was always a good atmosphere, and the guys worked well together in pursuit of our goals, and I actually enjoyed the past three weeks of racing," he concluded. Hindley perhaps struggled with the second Grand Tour in a season, but has for the first time ridden - and completed - two in the same year.