‘This year has been a tough one mentally’ – Jay Vine on a cautious comeback following Giro d’Italia abandon

Despite a promising beginning, the 2026 season hasn’t gone to plan for Jay Vine, who is now steadily plotting his return to full fitness after being involved in a mass crash on the second stage of the Giro d’Italia in Bulgaria.

The season began for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider with victories in both the Australian time trial championship and the Tour Down Under, although the latter was almost derailed by a freak collision with a kangaroo.