Mike O'Connor
Australian climber Jay Vine has been forced out of the Giro d’Italia after a heavy crash during the rain-soaked second stage in Bulgaria, continuing a brutal run of bad luck for the UAE Team Emirates rider.
The major incident unfolded on slippery roads approaching the final climb of the stage from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo, with close to 20 riders reportedly caught up in the fall.
Vine was taken away on a stretcher before being transported to hospital, while teammate Marc Soler also required medical assessment.
UAE Team Emirates manager Mauro Gianetti told TNT Sports the team had feared the dangerous conditions before the stage.
“We were scared because we knew the weather and rain would make the roads dangerous,” Gianetti said.
The team’s immediate concern centred on Vine and Soler, with Gianetti confirming both riders had been taken to hospital.
“We have two riders, Jay Vine and Marc Soler, on the way to hospital,” he said. “We just hope it’s nothing too bad. Nothing is clear about their conditions for the moment. We’re just waiting for information from the doctors.”
#GirodItalia: “Jay Vine y Marc Soler van camino al hospital”
— Ciclismoaldia (@Ciclismoaldia3) May 9, 2026
Mauro Gianetti confirma los peores presagios para UAE en el Giro de Italia tras un aparatoso accidentehttps://t.co/6UPi8XUja5
The latest setback adds to a long list of crashes for Vine, who was racing for the first time since another heavy fall at the Volta a Catalunya in March.
His career was nearly derailed by a devastating crash at the Tour of the Basque Country, where he suffered fractured vertebrae before eventually returning to win stages and re-establish himself as one of the peloton’s strongest climbers.
The 30-year-old has won four stages of the Vuelta a España and earlier this year claimed the Tour Down Under despite colliding with a kangaroo during the final stage.
The crash was severe enough for organisers to temporarily neutralise the stage while medical staff attended to fallen riders.
UAE team leader Adam Yates also crashed but managed to finish the stage bloodied and covered in mud, although his general classification hopes are effectively over after losing more than 12 minutes.
“We don’t know about Adam but it was impossible for him to be in the first group,” Gianetti said. “It’s very sad. We wish everyone from the other teams a speedy recovery.”
Stage winner Guillermo Thomas Silva became the first Uruguayan rider to claim the Giro’s pink jersey.
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Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
