Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) questioned his own team’s approach at the Giro d’Italia, suggesting their plan is “unclear” and that he does not care about finishing top 10 in GC while his team-mate Joao Almeida hunts the overall victory.
The Australian said that he was being asked to help Almeida and target a top 10 finish in the general classification rather than chase stage victories, which he suggested goes against a discussion he had when he penned a contract extension with the team only last week.
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“It’s unclear at the moment what the team’s plan is,” Vine told Eurosport ahead of Thursday’s stage to Rivoli.
“I keep getting told that I can ride for a top 10 but that’s not interesting for me personally. In an ideal world, my goal would be to lose 45 minutes and then be able to target some stages.
“The other part is looking after Joao and getting him on the podium or the win is more important than a stage win for me. Whichever way the team decides, I’m happy.”
Pressed on why a top 10 on GC did not appeal to him, Vine continued: “There is no interest for me because it has no monetary value at all.
“I’ve signed for four years and part of the negotiations was ‘top 10s are meaningless’. So I don’t care. It might be great for the team, for social media, but wins or podiums [are what matters]… Apart from that, I’m happy to help Joao but I personally don’t care.”
In another curveball, Vine later finished over 12 minutes behind the maglia rosa group containing Thomas and Almeida on Stage 12 – leaving him 36th in GC, almost 25 minutes adrift of Thomas, and hinting at a change of focus to stage victories as the mountains loom.
Friday’s five-star stage features three bruising Cat. 1 climbs, even if the race’s Cima Coppi ascent up the Great St Bernard Pass has been scrapped due to snow and an avalanche risk.
Almeida, who finished fourth at the 2020 Giro and sixth in 2021, is expected to take the fight to Thomas and Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) as the Giro heads uphill.
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