Jai Hindley has won Australian cyclings ultimate annual award – the Sir Hubert Opperman Trophy for the Santini AusCycling Cyclist of the Year.
With other major award winners including Jay Vine, Bre Vine, Tiffany Cromwell, Georgia Baker, Grace Brown, Darren Hicks and Logan Martin, the names were announced during the week at AusCycling’s virtual awards ceremony.
Hindley now joins the likes of Cadel Evans, Robbie McEwen and Anna Meares on the Oppy Medal honour roll.
“It’s a massive honour and a huge privilege to be amongst those names,” he said.
“Those are some class people who have achieved great things in the cycling realm, so, it’s really special.
“As a six-year-old you have a lot of big dreams and aspirations, and it’s been a hell of a journey, that’s for sure.”
In May, the 26-year-old became the first Australian to win the Giro d’Italia, creating a landmark moment in Australian sporting history.
In doing so, Hindley joined Cadel Evans in the exclusive pantheon of Australians who have won one of cycling’s three-week-long Grand Tours.
“I still can’t believe it, actually. To have my name next to Cadel’s, to be the only grand tour winners from Australia, it’s a really crazy feeling,” Hindley said.
“He’s the best cyclist to have come out of Australia, a class rider, and to have my name next to his in some form is a real honour.”
Winners List – 2022 AusCycling Cyclist of the Year Awards
Santini AusCycling Cyclist of the Year
Jai Hindley
Queensland Academy of Sport Women’s BMX Freestyle Rider of the Year
Sarah Nicki
Queensland Academy of Sport Men’s BMX Freestyle Rider of the Year
Logan Martin
HutSix Women’s BMX Racing Rider of the Year
Lauren Reynolds
HutSix Men’s BMX Racing Rider of the Year
Izaac Kennedy
Zwift Women’s Esports Cyclist of the Year
Bre Vine
Zwift Men’s Esports Cyclist of the Year
Jay Vine
Shimano Women’s Mountain Bike Rider of the Year
Rebecca McConnell
Shimano Men’s Mountain Bike Rider of the Year
Luke Meier-Smith
KASK Women’s Road Para-cyclist of the Year
Carol Cooke
KASK Men’s Road Para-cyclist of the Year
Darren Hicks
Argon 18 Women’s Track Para-cyclist of the Year
Emily Petricola
Argon 18 Men’s Track Para-cyclist of the Year
Alistair Donohoe
Federation University Women’s Road Cyclist of the Year
Grace Brown
Federation University Men’s Road Cyclist of the Year
Jai Hindley
Vittoria Women’s Track Cyclist of the Year
Georgia Baker
Vittoria Men’s Track Cyclist of the Year
Men’s Team Sprint: Leigh Hoffman, Matthew Richardson, Matthew Glaetzer, Thomas Cornish
Shimano Women’s Cyclo-cross Cyclist of the Year
Rebecca Locke
Shimano Men’s Cyclo-cross Cyclist of the Year
Tom Chapman
Shimano Women’s Gravel Cyclist of the Year
Tiffany Cromwell
Shimano Men’s Gravel Cyclist of the Year
Nathan Haas
BikeSportz Junior Awards
- Women’s Junior BMX Rider of the Year: Teya Rufus
- Men’s Junior BMX Rider of the Year: Joshua Jolly
- Women’s Junior Mountain Bike Rider of the Year: Elise Empey
- Men’s Junior Mountain Bike Rider of the Year: Remy Meier-Smith
- Women’s Junior Road Cyclist of the Year: Isabelle Carnes
- Men’s Junior Road Cyclist of the Year: Hamish McKenzie
- Women’s Junior Track Cyclist of the Year: Women’s Team Sprint – Emma Stevens, Tyler Puzicha, Sophie Marr
- Men’s Junior Track Cyclist of the Year: Ryan Elliot
KOM Financial Advice Masters Awards
- Women’s Masters BMX Rider of the Year: Letitia Weatherhead
- Men’s Masters BMX Rider of the Year: Jamie Truran
- Women’s Masters Mountain Bike Rider of the Year: Sharon Heap
- Men’s Masters Mountain Bike Rider of the Year: Tim Northey
- Women’s Masters Road Cyclist of the Year: Clare Johnston
- Men’s Masters Road Cyclist of the Year: Alan Nelson
- Women’s Masters Track Cyclist of the Year: Anna Whitten
- Men’s Masters Track Cyclist of the Year: Johnathan Millington