Adelaide, Australia – Yesterday, Australian Jay Fine, driver of the Emirates XRG cycling team, was crowned champion of the 2026 Tour of Santos Down Under in Australia, the first stage race of the new season.
To give his team a well-deserved victory, his first in stage racing this year.
This came after a conclusion marked by harsh weather conditions and unexpected incidents.
Fine established himself from the early stages as the most prominent contender for the title.
After winning the second stage following a strong attack led by his team on Korsko’s rise alongside his teammate Jonathan Narvaez.
He took the lead in the overall standings and wore the yellow jersey for much of the race.
The competitions witnessed exceptional conditions, as the fourth stage was reduced due to extreme heat and fire risks.
Narvaez suffered a fall in the last meters that kept him out of the competition after he was injured.
In the final stage, Vane fell in the middle of the race after his bike collided.
But he quickly got up and changed his bike with his teammate Ivo Oliveira, returned to the race and rejoined the group, finishing the stage safely within the group.
To secure a well-deserved overall victory by more than a full minute in the overall standings.
Although the team started with only five competitors, they all made every effort to support and protect their colleague Fine’s lead from dangerous attacks from the most prominent competitors in the overall standings.
Mikkel Bjerg, in turn, was involved in a collision that led to his exit from the race.
While only Adam Yates and Ivo Oliveira reached the finish line in Stirling after a strong fighting performance.
