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One of most remarkable true stories. Jay Vine who earned pro contract after winning Zwift Academy program in 2020, beats entire field of world-class climbers & takes Vuelta a España stage win. #LaVuelta22
How it started How it’s going pic.twitter.com/RAB10is0Su
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) August 26, 2022
In terms of exposure, Zwift have had a pretty decent grand tour summer.
By sponsoring the revamped Tour de France Femmes, the indoor virtual training app has attached itself to one of the most important stories of the pro cycling season (or decade for that matter), and the company’s support for the continued growth of women’s cycling has garnered praise from riders, race organisers and fans alike.
And yesterday at the Vuelta a España, the world of indoor cycling received yet another (perhaps unexpected) publicity coup when 26-year-old Australian Jay Vine – the current Esports world champion and Zwift Academy graduate – took a sensational solo win ahead of some of the world’s best climbers on the mist-covered summit finish of Pico Jano.
For a rider who earned his pro contract at Alpecin–Deceuninck by winning the 2020 Zwift Academy programme, it’s ironic that Vine’s maiden victory came amidst the kind of atrocious weather conditions that would normally prompt most cyclists to reach for the turbo.
🗣️”El rodillo no sirve para nada…”
Jay Vine campeón del mundo de Zwift, cerrando bocas en #lavuelta22 🤐
Todos a la pain cave 🔦 pic.twitter.com/OArc9AZFbO
— Aleix Serra (@chiodi17) August 25, 2022
Not that Vine himself has morphed into a fully-fledged all-weather rider, however.
“I’m still using Zwift to prepare for races, because I’m a bit of a softy,” the Australian joked after his potentially career-changing stage victory.
“If the weather was like this when I was at home in Andorra, I wouldn’t have been riding outdoors. I still use Zwift to prepare for important events, especially because in rainy weather, you can’t predict what other road users will be doing.
“But a lot of my training is on the road, because fortunately the weather is very good in Andorra.”
The racing latecomer’s breakthrough success and enduring affinity with the indoor world has – rather predictably – opened the floodgates for Zwift-related gags online:
Also the current esports world champion. No word yet if they asked for a weigh-in post stage 😂 pic.twitter.com/ync22MSdZC
— velokicks (@velokicks) August 26, 2022
But did he use ghost, feather, or aero? @GoZwift any thoughts?
Chapeau Jay! https://t.co/TzXklc77ex
— GlobalCyclingNetwork (@gcntweet) August 26, 2022
More seriously, with autumn fast approaching, Vine’s ‘pain cave to Pico Jano’ story may also prove a timely boost for an industry coming to terms with the collapse of the lockdown boom…
Main image: Unipublic/Sprint Cycling Agency
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