JAI HINDLEY

M eet the Aussie self-starter who is fast on the climbs and has great tactical savvy

Which results stand out?

Sixth in 2016 in Flèche Ardennaise, then second in the AN Post Rás in May. At the back end of the year he really pushed on. He won the GP Capodarco, and came fifth in the Tour de l’Avenir.

And how’s he going this year?

He picked up where he left off. During a spell of pro-level racing over the Aussie summer, he came second on the hard Falls Creek finish and in GC at the Sun Tour. Mitchelton-Scott’s coach James Victor said Hindley’s confidence went to another level after that. He also led a team 1-2-3 at the Toscana Terra di Ciclismo Eroica.

Sounds like a talent packed team…

It is. Victor, who’s been working with young Australian talent since 2010, when Michael Matthews won the U23 Worlds in Geelong, said the current intake was the best group of guys he’s had.

And what’s Jai’s character like?

He’s laid-back, but diligent and determined. Plus, Hindley’s race craft is coming along nicely. “He’ll always be at the front of the group and always reads the racing better than anyone in the group at the moment,” said Victor.

Sounds like a shoo-in to join the OricaScott WorldTour squad...

Not necessarily. Victor said a lot depended on the ‘business case’ for the WorldTour squad taking on more young Australian talent - whether Hindley as a talented young climber fits as the type of rider they need in the near future. He said Orica-Scott’s general manager Shayne Bannan and lead sport director Matt White are sticklers for choosing the right talent at the right time.

So, with talent to burn, Hindley could go elsewhere?

Yes. “Jai’s management are in discussions with other teams,” said Victor, adding a note of caution. “WorldTour teams are preparing for every race and not using the races to get ready for the next one. To ask U23s to step into that is a much harder now,” he said. A ProConti outfit could be a useful intermediate step for young riders such as Hindley these days, and allow him to develop at his own pace.