The Australian cycling star Jay Vine has survived a race crash caused by a kangaroo to win the Tour Down Under for the second time.<\/p>\n
Despite losing two more UAE Team Emirates colleagues on Sunday\u2019s last stage, Vine\u2019s commanding lead was enough of a buffer. He also won the event in 2023.<\/p>\n
The British sprint ace Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease A Bike) won the last stage.<\/p>\n
A four-rider group, including last year\u2019s overall runner-up Javier Romo, broke clear on the last of eight laps. But they were caught well before the finish.<\/p>\n
Vine held onto his Tour Down Under lead the hard way, with a kangaroo causing the Australian and several other cyclists to crash during the stage. He was among several riders to fall when the kangaroo bounded on to the course.<\/p>\n
The peloton rides past a kangaroo road sign during Sunday\u2019s last stage. Photograph: Brenton Edwards\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
While Vine was able to stay in the race, he lost Danish teammate Mikkel Bjerg to injury after the incident with 95km left in the stage. At least a couple of other riders were also forced out of the Tour because of crash injuries<\/p>\n
Colombian Juan Molano also separately pulled out of the stage, leaving Vine with only two teammates, British star Adam Yates and Ivo Oliveira from Portugal.<\/p>\n
But the Australian was the strongest rider in the race and he went into the last stage with a one minute and three seconds advantage.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udd01 It\u2019s a double bike change for \ud83e\udde1 Jay Vine, who was caught in an incident between riders and a kangaroo. The race leader is back in the peloton, and we do hope that everyone involved, rider and animal, is alright \ud83e\udd1e <\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcfa Stream the race now on @7plus<\/a>: https:\/\/t.co\/k2Exq3GblT<\/a>\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/QdapeV6QEJ<\/a><\/p>\n