Jay Vine secures second Tour Down Under victory after collision with kangaroo
Australian cyclist Jay Vine secured his second Tour Down Under victory on Sunday, overcoming a dramatic collision with a kangaroo during the final stage through the Adelaide Hills, reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred approximately 60 miles from the finish of the 105-mile stage around Stirling, as two large marsupials unexpectedly bounded onto the road while the peloton travelled at high speed.
Vine, who also claimed the title in 2023, was among several riders brought down in the chaos. Three competitors were forced to abandon the race due to their injuries, including Menno Huising, Lucas Stevenson, and Alberto Dainese. The kangaroo itself sustained injuries in the collision.
Despite the setback, Vine quickly remounted and, after switching bikes twice, rejoined the main group with around 57 miles remaining. The race leader described the unfolding moment as chaotic, stating, “Two of them blasted through the peloton as we were doing 50km/h,” and added, “I ended up hitting its backside as it was flaying around on the ground.”
Vine’s UAE Team Emirates squad faced additional challenges when Danish rider Mikkel Bjerg also had to withdraw following the incident. The race continued with Englishman Matthew Brennan claiming the stage victory in a sprint finish, beating New Zealand’s Finn Fisher-Black and Denmark’s Tobias Lund Andresen across the line.
Vine’s overall winning margin stood at one minute and three seconds over Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid, with fellow Australian Harry Sweeny a further nine seconds back in third. The triumph marked a notable achievement for Vine, particularly given the misfortune faced by his team throughout the race, which included the crash of defending champion Jhonatan Narváez during Saturday’s fourth stage while he was in second place overall.
In a season tipped for highlights, Vine’s resilience in the face of unexpected hurdles serves as a reminder of the often unpredictable nature of competitive cycling, where even a collision with wildlife can’t derail a strong performance.
