Australian cyclist Jay Vine secured his second Tour Down Under victory on Sunday, overcoming a dramatic collision with a kangaroo during the final stage through the Adelaide Hills.
The incident occurred approximately 60 milesfrom the finish of the 105-mile stage around Stirling.
Two large marsupials bounded onto the road as the peloton travelled at high speed.
Vine, who also claimed the title in 2023, was among several riders brought down in the chaos.
The race leader quickly remounted and, after switching bikes twice, rejoined the main group with around 92 kilometres still to ride.
Speaking after the race, Vine explained his view on Australia’s wildlife hazards.
He told Seven: “Everyone asks me what’s the most dangerous thing in Australia and I always tell them it’s kangaroos.
“They wait and they hide in the bushes until you can’t stop and then they jump out in front of you.”
Australian cyclist Jay Vine overcame a dramatic collision with a kangaroo
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The 29-year-old described how the collision unfolded as the peloton raced at approximately 50kph.
Vine said: “Two of them blasted through the peloton as we were doing 50km/h,”
“One of them stopped, went left, right, left, right, left, right and then I ended up hitting its backside as it was flaying around on the ground.”
The kangaroo incident proved costly for the peloton, with three competitors forced to withdraw due to their injuries.
The race leader quickly remounted
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Menno Huising, Lucas Stevenson and Alberto Dainese all abandoned the race following the crash, while the marsupial itself sustained injuries in the collision.
Vine’s UAE Team Emirates squad suffered further losses when Danish rider Mikkel Bjerg, his teammate, was also unable to continue after the incident.
The race leader wasted no time getting back into contention, rising immediately from the tarmac and requiring two bike changes before slotting back into the peloton with roughly 57 miles remaining on the course.
Englishman Matthew Brennan claimed the stage victory in a sprint finish, beating New Zealand’s Finn Fisher-Black and Denmark’s Tobias Lund Andresen across the line.
Jay Vine secured his second Tour Down Under victory on Sunday
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The 20-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider is tipped for success in major one-day classics this season.
Vine’s overall winning margin stood at one minute and three seconds over Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid, with fellow Australian Harry Sweeny a further nine seconds back in third.
The triumph came despite significant misfortune for UAE Team Emirates throughout the race.
Defending champion Jhonatan Narváez crashed out during Saturday’s fourth stage while occupying second place overall.
