Australian cyclist Jay Vine showcased remarkable resilience by battling through a knee injury to secure third place in the second-stage time trial at the Giro d’Italia.
Just a day after a heavy crash threatened to end his race, Vine defied the odds with a stunning performance on the 13.7-kilometre circuit in Tirana. His determination saw him finish just three seconds behind British stage winner Josh Tarling and two seconds short of race favourite Primož Roglič, who now dons the leader’s pink jersey.
Vine’s right knee was heavily strapped following his brutal fall, an accident that also prematurely ended Mikel Landa’s Giro campaign. Reflecting on his uncertainty before the stage, Vine admitted: “Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to start today, but the knee’s feeling much better and I’ll be back on the start line.”
Meanwhile, fellow Aussie Luke Plapp saw his hopes dashed after a crash of his own. The three-time national time-trial champion had been flying through the streets before sliding off his bike on a sharp corner. Forced to remount on a replacement bike, he struggled to recover and finished last among the 182 riders, some four minutes behind the leader.
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