Jay Zwifts up professional peloton vine

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It was no secret that Canberra Cycling Club member Jay Vine's ultimate ambition for 2020 was to earn a professional contract.

353 days into the year, it was mission accomplished for the quietly spoken Canberran, who was announced as the 2020 Zwift Academy winner in December last year and the holder of a professional contract with UCI ProTeam Alpecin-Fenix.

In a surreal glance into the year that was, Vine's dream was realised in his own home via a video call streamed live to the world by Zwift.

"I'm pretty ecstatic to be honest," Vine said after being announced as the winner.

Jay Vine

"I’m lost for words, I didn’t think that it was going to happen this year.

"This is just incredible. I can’t wait to get over there - when do I start?!."

It was a deserved reward for the Nero Continental rider who had begun to turn heads in 2019 after winning the rain-drenched Tour of the Tropics National Road Series event.

Vine continued on his upward trajectory at the 2020 Herald Sun Tour courtesy of a 5th on GC and 3rd on the Queen Stage to Mt Buller.

It looked as though everything would fall into place for Vine, however, as we know now, nothing would be smooth sailing past March.

Despite the setbacks of race cancellation after race cancellation, the 25-year-old stayed glued to the prospect of breaking through into the pro peloton.

In an interview with SBS Cycling Central, Vine said he had his doubts over whether or not it was going to happen for him in 2020.

"But it never stopped me from trying," he said.

Jay Vine

"I certainly wasn't going to wait a year then start again from scratch in 2021.

"The Zwift Academy back in March, when this (COVID-19) all blew up, wasn't even on the cards because until this point it had been U23 only."

The change in age restrictions was the open door Vine needed and with the support of his wife Bre it was all systems go for Zwift Academy.

The pair have now applied for Spanish visas with a planned base in Girona on the cards, Vine told SBS Cycling Central.

Until then, Vine will continue training out on the roads of the ACT in preparation to mix it with the world's best in Europe.

The entire AusCycling - ACT community congratulates Jay on his newly minted professional status and we look forward to watching his progression this year.

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