This month, Jai Hindley finally returned to his home in Perth, seeing friends and family in person for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began nearly three years ago. But the new season was already up his sleeve, and the week seemed to have passed in an instant. On Monday, the defending Giro d'Italia champion returned to Milan for the 2023 route presentation.

"I went back to Perth for nine days after the World Championships," he said. 'Before I knew it, I was on a plane back to Europe, starting to prepare for next year, and here I am, talking about next year. I already feel like I'm in 2023, but I'm looking forward to it."

Hindley's race program for next season has not yet been sketched out and will no doubt depend largely on the Tour de France route structure, which will be announced in Paris on October 27. Bora-Hansgrohe has already held preliminary planning meetings for the new campaign, but sports director Enrico Gasparotto told Cycling News that no decisions have been made regarding Hindley's Grand Tour plans.

"I haven't made up my mind yet, and I haven't discussed much about next year with the team, so I can't say," Hindley replied when asked if he would return to the Giro or make his Tour debut.

"Ultimately, we'll see what the Tour route is like and make a decision from there. But going into the Giro as the defending champion is also important.

The honor of wearing number 1 is not the only compelling reason for Hindley to choose the Giro: he can also expect a summit finish at the Grande Partenza in Abruzzo, where he spent his formative months as an amateur in 2015, and at Campo Imperatore, where he won the Baby Giro two years later

"There it is.

"Every time I go back there and smell the allostichini on the road, it reminds me a little bit of home," Hindley said. On the other hand, the sheer number of time trials, totaling 70.6 km across three stages, may discourage him from participating.

"Probably three more than I would like," Hindley smiled. But I don't dictate the route, so it will be what it will be."

"In 2020, there were three time trials, and I still came in second. I will continue to do time trials and try to make them more of an advantage. Sure, it's not ideal for me, but you can't always get what you want."

The flat time trial to Ortona and the 30km test to Cesena at the end of the opening week certainly did not fit Hindley's strengths, but he was more enthusiastic about the mountain time trial to Monte Russari on the final day.

"I like the look of the last time trial. Uphill time trials are kind of forgotten for years, and it's actually pretty cool," Hindley said of this stage, which will be tougher because it will take place just 24 hours after the Valparola, Giau, and Tre Croci to Tre Cime di Lavaredo tapone. Hindley said of the stage.

"If we run out of legs in the last TT, we could lose the race. I think these two stages are pretty important after three weeks. Every year in the Giro, these two stages are where the riders stumble. This year will be no different. It will be a battle of attrition in the last few days, whether they are capable or not."

While Hindley is pondering the prospects of defending his Giro title, the time trial-heavy route appears to be a good challenge for world champion Lemko Evenpoel, who won the Vuelta a España in dominating fashion.

"It doesn't matter where he starts, he's always a contender for the win and always a threat. He fully deserves to win the Vuelta, all three Grand Tours are pretty tough. You can't win by chance."

Hindley knows that better than anyone.

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