Jai Hindley (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) has secured his third overall podium finish in the Giro d'Italia, finishing third in Rome overnight.
The Western Australian has now stood on every step of the Italian Grand Tour podium after winning the Maglia Rosa in 2022, finishing second in 2021 and now third 2026 behind Jonas Vingegaard and Felix Gall.
Illness in the second week threatened to derail the 30-year-old's podium hopes, but he thankfully returned to better health quickly to battle his general classification rivals.
Hindley jumped to third after Stage 19 to Alleghe and cemented his place on the podium a day later by finishing third in the final GC test that was Stage 20's double ascent of Piancavallo.
"It’s incredibly difficult to achieve any kind of result in cycling these days," Hindley said.
"It’s been a while since I last stood on the podium at a Grand Tour, since I won the Giro. That’s why it’s something really special to have made it onto the podium here again, I'm proud.
"My relationship with the Giro is also special. It’s probably my favourite race."
Over 21 stages, Hindley's best stage result was third, which he achieved on Stage 7, 14 and 20.
Fellow Western Australian Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) finished seventh to join Hindley in the top 10. Ben O'Connor (Team Jayco-AlUla) finished 16th, directly by followed Chris Harper (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) in 17th.
Feature picture: Massimo Paolone/LaPresse