Jai Hindley: We’ve got a pretty sick team for the Tour de France
Australian signs two-year contract extension with the German team as focus turns to Primož Roglič and the Tour de France
Fresh from his super domestique role at the Critérium du Dauphiné, Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) is preparing for a potentially similar role at the Tour de France.
The Australian helped teammate Primož Roglič to the win the overall at the Dauphiné earlier this month and will form part of the core of Bora’s squad at the Tour later this month.
The Dauphiné was an arduous test, with Roglič holding on for a narrow win and Hindley taking 20th overall. The result wasn’t the most important aspect for the Australian, with his priorities focussed on keeping his Slovenian leader in contention and ahead of several key riders.
Back at home, and during a catch up with us, Hindley described the effects of the Dauphiné and compared the experience to last year, when he finished fourth overall in the race after leading Bora’s charge for the GC.
“I’m been pretty cooked and tired. I’ve not been doing too much [since the race]. I’m just putting my feet up right now and being a potato on the couch. The Dauphiné had lots of ups and downs but in general, for the team, it was really good. For me, it wasn’t the best but not too bad either. I think if I compare it to last year, I wasn’t on the same level but that’s also not a bad thing. I was in much better form at the Dauphiné last year. In the final week of the Tour last year I probably missed that last bit of form. The timing could be better for me this year,” Hindley said.
The 28-year-old finished seventh in the Tour de France last year, won a stage, and wore the yellow jersey. Now, with his form on a different but perhaps more promising trajectory, Hindley is hoping to find his groove as the Tour opens up.
“The plan is to go there in the best form possible. What happens at the race happens, and it’s also unpredictable but in terms of what I can control, it’s about being there in the best form possible and that’s what I’m planning on,” he said.
The team’s main focus will revolve around Roglič, who is looking to become the first Slovenian to win all three Grand Tours. The relationship between Hindley and Roglič is still at the early stages but all indications are positive, and with an impressive core, the team head to the Tour ready for what’s next.
“It’s pretty good. He’s clearly in some really good form at the moment and that’s a good relationship. It’s also not just him in the team, it’s also Aleks Vlasov, who will probably go to the Tour as a more protected rider as well. We’ve got a pretty sick team,” Hindley added.
“The best possible scenario is that me, Aleks and Primož are all there with the best form possible and then we have multiple cards to play when it comes down to the finales. I think we’ve got one of the best teams that we’ve ever sent in terms of the GC. So it’s quite exciting for the team. We have a really strong team, and we go to the Tour with complete focus for the GC and guys to support GC riders.”
The task of winning the Tour won’t be easy, however. Jonas Vingegaard will lead the line for Visma-Lease a Bike, while Tadej Pogačar heads to the race looking for a Giro-Tour double and his backed by a stellar line-up at UAE Team Emirates. Remco Evenepoel remains a major threat, while Hindley also pointed to the collective strength at Ineos Grenadiers.
“For sure, you’ve got a really strong start list, with one of the best this year, and Vingegaard going. UAE have a ridiculously strong team and Pogačar coming off the back of a win at the Giro. He’ll be super confident and ready to go. Remco Evenepoel isn’t to be discarded and there’s always other riders. I’m sure that Ineos will come with a super strong team as well. I think it will be a good race. It’s going to be a cracker, mate,” he added.
We broke the news of Hindley’s contract extension at Bora earlier in the year via the GCN website. The Australian has penned a two-year deal, despite interest from several rival teams and the possibility of greater leadership opportunities in Grand Tours. For Hindley, Bora still represent a team full of chances, while at the same time a place he calls a ‘second family’.
“I’ll be with the team for the next two years after this one. I’m pretty stoked about that and I’m really grateful for their trust and support. It’s awesome,” he said.
“To be honest I just feel really good in the team. It feels like a second family for me. I think it’s a sweet team to be a part of. With Red Bull coming on board, I think that the team will really develop a lot. We’ll get better and better, so for me, I was just really keen to stay on the team.”
I’m Daniel Benson and I’m the former Editor in Chief at Cyclingnews, GCN, and VeloNews. I’ve recently set up a Substack with the aim of delivering you regular news, interviews, rider transfers and race analysis. To subscribe to my Substack please drop your email in the box below, and to find out more about what I’m doing please click here.
Here he is!