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🇦🇺 Australia /Sports

Jay Vine out of Giro d'Italia after horrific crash on stage two

From ABC Australia · (2h ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Australian cyclist Jay Vine has been forced to withdraw from the Giro d'Italia after a severe crash during stage two.
  • Vine was among multiple riders who fell on a descent, sliding into a barrier and requiring hospitalization.
  • The incident occurred on the anniversary of another cyclist's death, raising concerns about rider safety on dangerous descents.

The Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's most prestigious Grand Tours, was marred by a horrific crash on its second stage, forcing Australian rider Jay Vine out of the race and into hospital. The incident, which saw Vine and numerous other cyclists slide into a barrier on a treacherous descent with 22km remaining, cast a dark shadow over the event. Vine, a 30-year-old Australian, was stretchered into an ambulance, and the race was briefly neutralized to allow medical staff to attend to the injured.

Terrible crash, absolute carnage in the peloton.

— Simon GerransCommentator on SBS describing the scene after the mass crash during stage two of the Giro d'Italia.

Adding a chilling layer of déjà vu, the crash occurred on the 15th anniversary of the death of Belgian sprinter Wouter Weylandt, who tragically lost his life after a heavy crash on a descent in the 2011 Giro. Vine himself has had a history of crashes, including incidents at the Itzulia Basque Country race in 2024, the Tour Down Under in January, and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in March, highlighting the inherent dangers of professional cycling.

We were scared because we knew that the weather and the rain would make the roads very dangerous.

— Mauro GianettiUAE Team boss commenting on the hazardous road conditions that contributed to the crash.

Commentary from SBS described the scene as "absolute carnage," with over 20 riders hitting the deck on the slippery descent. The aftermath was grim, with riders covered in mud, blood, and torn jerseys. Andrea Vendrame suffered fractured vertebrae, while team leader Adam Yates lost significant time due to injuries sustained in the crash. UAE Team boss Mauro Gianetti acknowledged the dangerous conditions, stating, "We were scared because we knew that the weather and the rain would make the roads very dangerous."

I think everyone could see that someone was going to fall on these roads, and we were the unlucky ones.

— António MorgadoRider commenting on the predictability of a crash given the slippery road conditions.

The swift restart of the race drew criticism from riders, with Jasper Stuyven calling the race director's decision into question due to a lack of available ambulances and the continued presence of a dangerous descent. The riders' concerns underscore a persistent debate within the sport regarding safety protocols and the balance between racing and rider well-being, particularly on challenging and exposed routes.

There were no ambulances left on course, but there was still a descent ahead that could have been dangerous.

— Jasper StuyvenRider criticizing the race restart and safety measures following the major crash.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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