Cycling
Jai Hindley's climb back: a Giro d'Italia comeback story
A mid-race illness scare couldn't stop Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe's Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari from producing one of the Giro's standout displays of teamwork and mountain tactics.
For Jai Hindley, the Giro d'Italia ended with a return to familiar territory. Four years after winning the race, the Australian secured third overall, claiming his third career Giro podium and delivering Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe's fifth Grand Tour podium.
From the first mountain test to the last, Hindley remained one of the most consistent riders in this year's race, but the podium may well have remained out of sight had it not been for the unselfish work of teammate and emerging talent Giulio Pellizzari.
Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari working together
© RCS Sports & Events / Red Bull Content Pool
More than a podium
A wave of illness during the three weeks had repeatedly threatened to derail the team's plans, with Pellizzari among those hardest hit. Time and again, the young Italian was forced to overcome setbacks, yet he never wavered in his commitment to the collective goal.
On the queen stage, he delivered one of those invaluable performances that rarely earns headlines or appears in the results, but can make all the difference in the battle for a Grand Tour.
At the start of the final week, Hindley sat fifth, 53 seconds off the podium and 3m 43s behind race leader Jonas Vingegaard. Having lost significant time – around 18 minutes – on Stage 16, Pellizzari's own GC ambitions were effectively over. But as in any Grand Tour, setbacks can create opportunities.
It’s something really special to have made it onto the podium here again
From that point, Pellizzari became crucial to Hindley’s campaign, switching fully into a domestique role, and showcasing how teamwork plays a decisive role. On Stage 19 - the queen stage - he was up the road in the breakaway. When the race came back together, the young Italian dedicated himself to pacing for his teammate, ramping up the pressure on Hindley’s closest rival, Thymen Arensman.
Arensman cracked on the final climb and lost 1m 02s, and the podium battle swung in Hindley’s favour as he moved up into third overall. That gain also gave Hindley a small buffer to defend on the final GC stage, Stage 20.
Jai Hindley's Giro comeback was built on consistency
© Maximilian Fries / Red Bull Content Pool
"It’s incredibly difficult to achieve any kind of result in cycling these days," Hindley said after the race. "It’s been a while since I last stood on the podium at a Grand Tour, since I won the Giro. That’s why it’s something really special to have made it onto the podium here again, I'm proud. My relationship with the Giro is also special. It’s probably my favourite race.
Fighting together – teamwork pays off
After almost 3,500km of racing and around 48,000m of elevation gain, the 109th Giro d’Italia concluded in Rome. Beginning in Bulgaria, the peloton battled through 21 stages that offered a bit of everything: mountaintop finishes, wet cobbled roads and an individual time trial.
For Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, this Giro d’Italia ends with more than just another podium finish. The race once again highlighted the qualities that have defined the team for years: patience, resilience and the mindset to fight together for a common goal over three demanding weeks.
No matter how hopeless the situation seems, there’s always a way out if the team supports each other so strongly and keeps the ship afloat
By finishing third in Rome, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe also extends its Grand Tour streak. Over the last three seasons, the team has reached the overall podium of at least one Grand Tour every year – an achievement matched by only two other teams during that period.