Jai Hindley creates history with second place finish at Giro d’Italia

Western Australian Institute of Sport graduate Jai Hindley has ridden his name in to Western Australian sporting folklore, finishing second overall at the 2020 Giro d’Italia.

Hindley became the first Western Australian to finish on the final podium of a grand tour, and just the third Australian, following Cadel Evans and Richie Porte.

After going in to the race as a domestique for teammate Wilco Kelderman, Hindley proved he was one of the best in the race in the opening week to sit just outside the top 10. As the stages toughened Hindley came in to his own and moved in to the top 10 with three top 10 finishes in week two.

The final gruelling week was where the young Western Australian surged including a win on stage 18, the first ever individual stage win by a rider from WA. A close battle with fellow rising star Tao Geoghegan Hart (Great Britain) ensued over the final few stages, with Hindley taking a lead of less than one second in to the final stage.

Over the final 15.7kms against the clock Geoghegan Hart had the edge with Hindley, holding his own to seal a podium finish.

Hindley was not the only WA rider with success in the three week lap of Italy, with Ben O’Connor also tasting stage success on 17 and a top 20 overall finish.