Nat Bromhead
West Australian Jai Hindley is now leading the Giro d’Italia after a thriller of a penultimate stage.
With just one stage to go, the final 17km time trial in Verona, Hindley is close to 90 seconds in the overall lead.
Jai crossed the Stage 20 finish line 1minutes and 25 seconds ahead of former race leader Richard Carapaz of the Ineos Grenadiers who cracked on the 178km / 4500m mountain stage.
“We had a plan today and we executed it perfectly,” said a joyful Hindley after popping the Prosecco on the podium.
“Lennard gave me an incredible boost and when I heard that Carapaz had dropped back, I pulled everything out of the bag,” he continued.
“I knew that today would be the decisive stage of the Giro. It was a brutal finale, but I knew that it was possible to make up time here if you have good legs.
“As for the time trial, we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. You never know how a time trial will go on the last day of a three-week tour, but I will give everything to win the pink jersey.”
26yo Hindley said “The Giro is not over yet, but the team and I are very confident.”
