UAE Group Emirates rider Jay Vine is not going to be defending his Tour Down Below title in January, with the rider from Canberra who efficiently stormed by way of the summer time racing in Australia in 2023 opting to construct for later season targets in 2024 as an alternative.
Vine stated that as he can be driving in each the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España subsequent 12 months so, notably given his late end to this season, is not going to be participating in his residence nation’s solely WorldTour stage race.
After two years the place the Tour Down Below didn’t happen due to COVID-19 restrictions, Vine succeeded fellow Australian Richie Porte as winner of the race in 2023 forward of Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious).
Other than lacking out on the Tour Down Below, Vine will even not be defending the Australian time trial title he took for the primary time in 2023, he revealed in the course of the UAE coaching camp in Spain.
“I’m doing Giro-Vuelta double once more and if I really do the Vuelta once more that takes me nicely into September,” Vine instructed Cyclingnews. “So we’ve determined I gained’t go to Australia in any respect and I’m not doing Highway Nats, not doing TT Nats, not doing the Tour Down Below.”
Vine stated the choice not to return to Australia was taken roughly a month in the past. The course for the 2024 Tour Down Below, that includes a double summit end at Willunga Hill, not like in 2023, and a special route up Mount Lofty, additionally gave added weight to his choice.
“It’s Willunga and Lofty – Lofty’s lots simpler this 12 months,” stated Vine of the ultimate stage which has much less repeats of the ending climb in 2024. “I must be on actually good type earlier than January to presumably do something there.”
“Final 12 months I didn’t do any of my purpose races earlier than the Giro, I went straight into the Giro after damage and I need to really be capable to compete in Europe this 12 months so we determined it’s not possible.”
But one more reason was that Vine raced till actually late in 2023, finishing his season on the Tour of Turkey in mid-October.
“On the finish of the day turning that round that shortly, it’s simply not attainable. I’m inferior to [UAE team leader] Tadej [Pogačar],” he stated with a smile. “Perhaps he can race Il Lombardia and win and do the identical within the following February with a 7 Watt per kilo effort – I can’t.”
Relating to one of many key ascents, Willunga Hill, “It’s a extremely onerous climb to win on. My dream is to win there, however the numbers it’s a must to do on that hill…all people exhibits up on flying type, however I’d have to organize from October, not end in mid-October, take a break after which begin in the course of November. It’s simply not attainable.”
Vine’s absence removes one main contender from the January race, with Jayco-AIUIa’s Simon Yates and Luke Plapp, Soudal-QuickStep’s Julian Alaphilippe and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) among the many stand-out names which have to date been revealed as starters.
