Jay Vine has launched Australia’s challenge at the world road cycling championships in spectacular fashion, winning a silver medal in the men’s elite time trial in Kigali behind Belgian great Remco Evenepoel.<\/p>\n
After Brodie Chapman just missed out on a medal in the equivalent women’s event at the start of Africa’s historic first road championships in Rwanda on Sunday, Vine continued where he had left off at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a as he delivered a stunning ride against the clock.<\/p>\n
Vine, who had won two stages and the King of the Mountains jersey in the Spanish Grand Tour, covered the demanding, undulating 40.6km course in 51 minutes 00.83 seconds, a time only bettered by Olympic champ Evenepoel’s stupendous 49:46.03.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jay Vine in action on his way to claiming a silver medal during the men’s time trial. (Getty Images: Dario Belingheri)<\/p>\n
Vine’s effort, though a minute-and-a-quarter slower, was still so fast he beat Belgian bronze medallist Ilan de Wilder by more than a minute and 22 seconds and, even more remarkably, outpaced all-time great Tadej Poga\u010dar by almost 1:23.<\/p>\n
“It’s an incredible feeling representing your country at the world level,” Vine said.<\/p>\n
“To bring back a silver medal \u2014 it’s not the one I wanted to bring back \u2014 but it’s a good consolation prize.”<\/p>\n
As he became the only man to break the 50-minute barrier, Evenepoel gained more than two-and-a-half minutes on Poga\u010dar to overtake him on a cobbled ascent as he raced to a third straight world title in the discipline.<\/p>\n
“Of course, I am disappointed that Remco caught me, but it is incredible how good he is in this discipline. Chapeau for the ride by him,” said Poga\u010dar, who suffered a rare defeat on his 27th birthday and will now target next weekend’s road race.<\/p>\n
For Vine, it represented the culmination of an incredible comeback.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old Queenslander’s life had been in the balance after a terrible crash at last year’s Tour of the Basque Country<\/a>, which then left him having to recuperate from a career-threatening back injury.<\/p>\n But he recovered to finish fifth in last year’s time trial despite suffering a fall in the race.<\/p>\n