Jay Vine opens up on tough year after Giro crash as baby number two takes priority

Jay Vine has shared a positive update on his recovery a few weeks after the crash that forced him out of the Giro d’Italia, while also opening up on the mental strain of what has been a difficult year.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider abandoned the race following the mass crash on stage 2 in Bulgaria, where he suffered a concussion and an elbow fracture. Team mate Marc Soler also left the Giro with a pelvic fracture, while Adam Yates later withdrew after completing the stage.

The Giro crash came after earlier setbacks this season, including the infamous kangaroo incident at the Tour Down Under and another crash at the Volta a Catalunya, where Vine was also forced to abandon.

In a message posted on Instagram, Vine said his recovery has now started to move in the right direction.

“Two weeks post-Giro and things are finally starting to head in the right direction,” Vine wrote. “The concussion symptoms have turned a corner, the metrics and SCAT protocols are showing good progress, and most importantly I’m feeling good again.”

The Australian added that his elbow has healed quicker than previous injuries, allowing him to return to easy outdoor rides already.

“The elbow has also progressed a lot quicker than the old scaphoid did, which has meant I’ve been able to get back out for some easy rides outdoors already,” he said.

Vine’s update comes after another frustrating spell on the sidelines. The 29-year-old has endured a stop start period in recent seasons, and admitted that the repeated setbacks have been hard to deal with mentally.

“Not going to lie, this year has been a tough one mentally,” Vine wrote. “Every time things start building in the right direction, another setback seems to pop up, and when a lot of it is completely out of your control it definitely wears thin.”

Despite that, Vine made clear he is not facing the process alone, pointing to the support around him as he looks to plan the next steps in his recovery.

“Team Vine is fully behind me, helping work through it all and plan the next steps forward,” he said.

For now, racing is not the main priority. Vine also revealed that his focus is at home, with his wife Bre close to giving birth to their second child.

“Baby number two will be taking top priority over the next little while,” he wrote.

At this stage, it remains unclear when Vine will return to the peloton. What is clear, however, is that the Australian will not be part of UAE’s Tour de France squad, which will be chasing a fifth victory for Tadej Pogačar.