Jay Vine to replace Chris Harper for elite men's road race at Zurich 2024 Road Worlds

After being selected to race the 2024 UCI Road Cycling World Championships for the ARA Australian Cycling Team as the individual time trial replacement for Lucas Plapp, Jay Vine will now also race in the elite men's road race following the withdrawal of Chris Harper for medical reasons.

Harper had been selected to make his ARA Australian Cycling Team debut in Zurich, but the Team Jayco AlUla climber unfortunately abandoned the Vuelta a España during Stage 11 last week on medical grounds.

After being notified of Harper’s withdrawal from the team, AusCycling’s National Selection Panel has named Vine as his replacement.

Vine, 28, has quickly returned to form at La Vuelta and Vuelta a Burgos after not racing since early April due to a crash that resulted in multiple fractures in his vertebrae, including a cervical and two thoracic spine vertebral body fractures.

Zurich will be Vine's first appearance in the elite men's road race for Australia, with the Canberran having made his maiden Road Worlds individual time trial start last year in Glasgow.

Vine will race the elite men’s individual time trial on September 22 and is expected to also race in the mixed relay team time trial on September 25.

The elite men's road race will be held on September 29.

The full composition of Australia’s mixed relay team has not yet been announced.

Women Elite Road Race

• Neve Bradbury* (22, St Kilda CC, VIC)
• Grace Brown (32, St Kilda CC, VIC)
• Brodie Chapman (33, University of Queensland CC, QLD)
• Sarah Gigante (23, Brunswick CC, VIC)
• Ruby Roseman-Gannon (25, Brunswick CC, VIC)
• Amanda Spratt (36, Penrith CC, NSW)

 Women Elite Individual Time Trial

• Grace Brown (32, St Kilda CC, VIC)
• Brodie Chapman (33, University of Queensland CC, QLD)
• Isabelle Carnes* (20, Balmoral CC, QLD)

 *Eligible for under-23 competition.

 Men Elite Road Race

• Jack Haig (30, Bendigo & District CC, VIC)
• Jai Hindley (28, Midland CC, WA)
• Michael Matthews (33, Vikings CC, ACT)
• Ben O’Connor (28, Peel District CC, WA)
• Nick Schultz (29, Sunshine Coast CC, QLD)
• Callum Scotson (27, Port Adelaide CC, SA)
• Michael Storer (27, Midland CC, WA)
• Jay Vine (28, Canberra CC, ACT)

 Men Elite Individual Time Trial

• Jay Vine (28, Canberra CC, ACT)

Feature picture: Pauline Ballet / SWpix.com