Giro d’Italia 2023: 'I don’t care' – Jay Vine questions UAE Team Emirates plan in extraordinary interview

Updated 18/05/2023 at 21:25 GMT

Just days after penning a contract extension with UAE Team Emirates, Jay Vine questioned the team and said “I don’t care” about finishing in the top 10 in the general classification at the Giro d’Italia. The Australian had hoped to target stage victories in Italy, but has so far been tasked with protecting Joao Almeida. Almeida is third in GC heading into the first major mountain test on Friday.

'I don’t care' – Vine questions UAE Team Emirates plan ahead of Stage 12

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.

Vine began Stage 12 in 18th place in the general classification, 12’52” back on leader Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), with Almeida in third at 22”.

Tour of Türkiye

An 'absolute genius at work' - Vine clinches Stage 7 win at Tour of Turkey

00:02:07

14/10/2023 at 13:07

“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.

However, Sean Kelly predicts he will not have been particularly happy to see another team-mate, Davide Formolo, lead a gruelling and futile uphill chase on Thursday – less than 24 hours before the peloton roll out for the biggest mountain test yet.