A kangaroo runs over the peloton in the final stage (video), but Jay Vine recovers and achieves victory in the 2026 Tour Down Under

The Tour Down Under 2026 came to a chaotic yet unforgettable conclusion with a final stage that was anything but ordinary. A kangaroo burst into the peloton with many kilometers still to go, causing a multiple crash that involved the overall leader, Jay Vine. Despite the scare, the loss of key teammates, and having to regroup under pressure, the Australian from UAE managed to retain the leader's jersey and secure his second overall victory in the Australian event, following his win in 2023.

A kangaroo crashes into the peloton in the final stage, but Jay Vine manages to win the Tour Down Under 2026

The final stage, contested over 169.8 km starting and finishing in Stirling, kicked off with a very high pace and continuous attempts to break away. The circuit, less selective than expected, led to thoughts of a sprint finish, although there was time for a well-worked breakaway and multiple offensive moves. In this context, UAE kept the situation under control, with Juan Sebastián Molano doing much of the work, until everything went haywire.

The race was marked by the sudden appearance of two kangaroos on the road, one of which jumped directly into the main group. The resulting crash left riders scattered across the asphalt and forced several withdrawals, including that of Danish rider Mikkel Bjerg, one of Vine's most important domestiques. The leader himself went down but was able to get up quickly and, with the help of Adam Yates and Ivo Oliveira, returned to the peloton after an extra effort.

The most Australian crash I've ever seen, a kangaroo jumped in the peloton.  "Final destination" stuff for UAE, it made Bjerg (who abandoned) and race leader Vine crash. They have only 3 riders left in the race... #TourDownUnder pic.twitter.com/U4WHYzH6xC

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) January 25, 2026

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“I always say that kangaroos are the most dangerous animals in Australia. They appear out of nowhere,” Vine explained after the stage, visibly relieved to have come out of the incident unscathed and to have maintained the lead despite a week marked by bad luck and crashes in his team.

With the breakaways neutralized in the final kilometer, the sprinters' teams took control. In the decisive sprint, Matthew Brennan (Visma Lease a Bike) won decisively after a very fast finish, surpassing Finn Fisher-Black and Tobias Lund Andresen. The Brit capped off his team's collective effort on a very tough day and closed the Tour Down Under with a prestigious stage victory.

Despite the chaos, the withdrawals, and being left without several teammates during the stage, Jay Vine crossed the finish line within the main group, enough to confirm his overall victory in the Santos Tour Down Under. A hard-fought, challenging victory marked by this unusual episode.