"When we look back in 10 years time... I think it will be something very special" - Jay Vine riding 2024 Vuelta a Espana with newborn son in his mind

Earlier this year, it looked as if Jay Vine's career might be over following a horrific crash at the Itzulia Basque Country left him in intensive care. Now though, just a few months later, 28-year-old Australian is impressing and right in the fight for the King of the Mountains jersey.

"We wanted some hard aggressive racing, and we went all in for today," wrote the UAE Team Emirates rider on his official Instagram account following stage 15 and heading into the second rest day of the Spanish Grand Tour. "Really happy to be feeling more and more like myself and helping the guys."

Having had such a rocky year, Vine wasn't sure what to expect going into this Grand Tour. It's fair to say however, things have been overwhelmingly positive for the Aussie ace. "Honestly I came into the tour not knowing how useful I’d be, so being able to be at the front helping my team mates fight for the win and try to shake up GC for Pavel is really special," he explains. "The fact that I’ve been part of two consecutive Sundays of super explosive and aggressive racing is a win, even more so with this how hard this La Vuelta course has been."

An added inspiration for Vine however, comes in the form of his newborn son. "Yesterday was Father’s Day in Australia, and I had my son born the day before I came to La Vuelta, so today is a pretty special day for me, and I wanted to make today count, whether that was with a stage win for the team or taking KOM points," concludes Vine, who is level with Wout van Aert in the fight for the polka-dot jersey. "When we look back in ten years and I explain to him that I couldn’t be there with him but it was because of all this, I think it will be something very special."