Kangaroo Collision Disrupts Tour Down Under Final; Leader Jay Vine Chases Back
The final stage of the Santos Tour Down Under presented a series of challenges for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Despite starting with Jay Vine in a strong position, the team faced significant setbacks during the race.
Kangaroo Collision Disrupts Tour Down Under Final
Jay Vine commenced stage 5 with a remarkable lead of 1:03 minutes over his closest competitor. Unfortunately, the team had lost Jhonatan Narváez due to a crash during stage 4.
Injuries and Team Setbacks
Vegard Stake Laengen also exited the race after sustaining injuries on Saturday. By the time stage 5 began, the team was down to five riders. Early in the race, a kangaroo caused chaos in the peloton, prompting a significant crash.
- Kangaroo sighting reported during stage 5
- One teammate, Mikkel Bjerg, was injured in the crash
- Vine was forced to swap bikes with Ivo Oliveira
- After some efforts, Vine managed to return to the main group
The crash occurred with fewer than 100 kilometers remaining on the stage, which covered 169.8 kilometers over eight laps culminating in a climb to Stirling. As a result of the collision, the team lost Bjerg and Juan Sebastián Molano, who had put in significant effort earlier in the race.
Vine’s Remaining Support
With only Oliveira and Adam Yates left to support him, Vine had to navigate the remainder of the challenging course with a reduced team. As the race continued, the impact of the crash and injuries became clear, altering the dynamics for UAE Team Emirates-XRG in this pivotal stage.
