Jai Hindley has made history, becoming the first Australian to ever win the Giro d'Italia cycling race, and just the second ever to win one of cycling's Grand Tours, joining the great Cadel Evans who won the Tour de France in 2011.
Hindley was pushed to his absolute limit in order to claim this victory but was able to hold on to secure the win, claiming the overall event by one minute and 18 seconds.
This victory for Hindley is so much sweeter given how close he has previously come to winning, losing the pink jersey to Tao Geoghegan Hart during a closing time trial in the 2020 event and finishing in second place.
💗 Giro d'Italia 2022 | Stage 2⃣1⃣
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 29, 2022
🇦🇺 @JaiHindley wins the Giro d'Italia 2022!
🇦🇺 @JaiHindley vince il Giro d'Italia 2022!#Giro pic.twitter.com/EX1OUpWLm6
But there would be no relinquishing of the title this time around, Hindley able to hold off favourite Richard Carapaz and claim that elusive top of the podium finish.
It was this feeling of finally getting over the top which was so special for Hindley, combined with the pride of representing his nation.
"It's a beautiful feeling... There were a lot of emotions out there today," Hindley said.
"To take the win is really incredible.
"I'm really proud to be Australian and happy to take this home."
Hindley was of course aware that he had been in this same situation before and said he was determined to not let history repeat itself this time around.
"I had in the back of my mind what happened in 2020... I wasn't going to let that happen again," Hindley said.
Not only did Hindley finally climb to the top of the podium, but he was able to exorcise some of his time-trial demons in the process - Hindley only conceded seven seconds in the final time trial, his 23-minute 55-second finish good for 15th placing in the final Verona leg, his best ever result in a Grand Tour time trial.
Poetically, Hindley's feat to join Cadel Evans also came 20 years to the day that Evans became the first-ever Australian to claim the pink jersey, which he wore for a single day.
