Jay Vine back after viral kangaroo crash but not ready to compete yet

The incident, as unusual as it was dramatic, quickly went viral. While leading the race on the final stage in Australia, Vine was brought down not by a rival or a riding error, but by a kangaroo that suddenly leapt into the peloton, triggering a crash that took down multiple riders.

"Everyone knows it by now. A kangaroo jumped into the peloton, and half the bunch went down," Vine said to Sporza ahead of stage 2 in Catalunya, revisiting the moment with a mix of disbelief and resignation. 

Asked how the animal involved was doing, he added with a laugh: "How it’s doing? No idea, I don’t really care."

Despite the fall, he managed to finish the stage and secure the overall victory, though the damage to his wrist would prove significant. Two months on, he is easing his way back into competition, careful not to rush a recovery process that could stretch much longer.

"It’s going well. Of course I’m still rehabilitating, but that can take 9 to 12 months," he explained, underlining the scale of the setback.

While Vine crossed the line with the general classification group in the opening stages in Spain, he is realistic about his current level. "It would be nice to get a result, but I don’t think I’m at the level to compete with these guys yet," he admitted.

The 28-year-old is also keen to move on from the global attention his crash attracted. "It made headlines all over the world, but it would be nice if the sport was known for something other than a kangaroo jumping in front of the riders. It is what it is," he added.

Following the incident at the Tour Down Under, Vine told reporters, including Domestique, that he was already aware of the dangers posed by wildlife in his home country.

“People always ask me what the most dangerous animals are in Australia and I always say kangaroos. They hide in the bushes and suddenly they are right in front of you. Today proved that point.”

Looking ahead, Vine has already mapped out the next phase of his season. After a training block in Spain, he will skip the Ardennes classics and instead build toward the Giro d’Italia, where a specific opportunity has caught his eye.

"There’s a very nice time trial on stage 10, about 40 kilometres and completely flat. That’s the one I’m really looking forward to. Anything extra from there is a bonus," he said.