EXPERIENCE CYCLING “I love the way we race. Courageously and unconventionally.” JAI HINDLEY Professional cyclist on the BORA– hansgrohe team
CYCLING EXPERIENCE DISCIPLINE and tactics The young Australian Jai Hindley has been racing and winning for BORA– hansgrohe since 2022 Text MARTIN FRAAS What can we learn from Jai Hindley? That you mustn’t be discouraged by setbacks. Even when they are still raw. Two years ago on 25 October 2020, the professional cyclist started the final day of the legendary Giro d’Italia as the overall time trial leader. Victory was within his grasp but snatched away from him by the Briton Tao Geoghegan Hart in an astonishing twist of fate. “It was really tough mentally”, says Jai looking back. “It took me a while to get over it. But I threw myself straight back into training because I knew that I could attain this top level again in the future.” It is to the credit of Ralph Denk, the experienced manager of the BORA– hansgrohe team, that he agreed with this opinion and recognised the huge potential of the Australian from Perth. He brought Jai onto his team for the 2022 season – and created the basis for a drama that would be the perfect script for a cycling series on Netflix. On 29 May 2022, Jai took overall victory in Verona on the final day of the 105th Photos: Tom Schlegel Jai Hindley particularly loves mountain stages as they enable him to make perfect use of his light weight, ability to accelerate, impressive power and tactical skill. BORA MAGAZINE 75
