Nat Bromhead
Former Canberra rider Jay Vine has enjoyed a stunning start to his first top-level race, the 25yo finishing 2nd at Stage 5, the Queen stage of the Tour of Turkey.
Also 2nd on overall general classification, Vine is enjoying a dream start to the year after winning the men’s Zwift Academy for 2020 and securing a place on the Alpecin-Fenix team.
A former NRS Nero Racing Team rider, Vine competed in many high-profile races and events including Bicycling Australia’s Bowral Classic, before stepping up to the World Tour.
“The team had total faith in me today,” said the former local.
“We’ve come here with one goal, which is to get a stage win,” he continued. “We’ve been so close with Jasper for the first four stages. I think it’s really incredible how we came together. For a lot of us it’s our first race of the year and our first together.”
It was the fourth podium finish for the Alpecin-Fenix team at this year’s Presidential Tour of Turkey.
“To get four seconds now is really good, it’s also disappointing that we haven’t got our stage win yet,” continued Vine.
“I think we got a really good group of guys here. Today we did it with four and everyone did an amazing job. It’s pretty surreal being put in position by Jasper on that final climb. That was pretty awesome.”
