Hindley wins the “Giro d’Italia”. In Sobrero the time trial of Verona.

Jai Hindley has finally fulfilled his dream of winning the Giro d’Italia (“Tour of Italy”), becoming the first Australian to succeed in this feat and redeeming the mockery of two years ago, when he lost at the last ‘dive’.  He had built his masterpiece in the penultimate stage, that of yesterday in which the Marmolada had issued the decisive sentences, and today, as expected, he defended the pink jersey in the final time trial celebrating his triumph in the Arena di Verona. Tokyo Olympian Richard Carapaz had to settle for second place. “This trophy is beautiful, and it’s almost bigger than me. Now there is also written my name along with other really incredible, fantastic champions. I couldn’t be happier, after going through difficult times like the ones I went through, without being able to see the family. It’s really incredible, I can’t find any other words, it doesn’t seem true to me. Last year was really hard, returning to this level was difficult. I didn’t know if I would be able to fight for the final victory, winning the jersey on the penultimate day was really exciting for me. And now I have this trophy, the most beautiful I’ve seen in my life.” Two years ago, in the Giro raced on October due to the pandemic, Hindley had touched on the feat accomplished today and was particularly ill with it. Taking possession of the record, he had enjoyed it for a single day before having to bow to Tao Geoghegan Hart who had mocked him in the last stage, in what had been an authentic head-to-head for the last pink jersey, that of definitive success. Today, however, the margin of 1’25” that he had on Carapaz made the Australian remain calm who lost practically nothing from the rival who yesterday had mocked by gluing himself to his wheel uphill and then detaching him at the decisive moment, with a perfect race tactic that crowned him in this Giro, which someone, even today, technically defined “in a lesser tone”.