Jai Hindley’s historic Giro d’italia win has earned him the Australian cyclist of the year award for the first time.

The Grand Tour star was presented with the Sir Hubert Opperman trophy on Wednesday night at an AusCycling virtual event.

In May, Hindley became only the second Australian to win a three-week Grand Tour when he took out the Giro.

The Bora-Hansgrohe rider also won the crucial ninth stage to the Blockhaus summit, a major step in Hindley claiming the overall title.

It came 11 years after Cadel Evans’ historic Tour de France win.

The Giro, Tour and the Vuelta a Espana are cycling’s three iconic Grand Tours.

Jai Hindley received the Sir Hubert Opperman trophy on Wednesday night at an AusCycling virtual event. Photo: Getty

Apart from his Giro win, Hindley also finished 10th overall at the Vuelta and was a member of the Australian team that helped Michael Matthews win bronze in the world championships road race at Wollongong.

The 26-year-old from Perth’s Midland Cycle Club was fifth at the Tirreno Adriatico and seventh in the Vuelta a Burgos, two shorter stage races.

Hindley also took out the men’s road category, while time-trial star Grace Brown won the women’s road award.

Other category winners featured mountain biker Bec McConnell, Tokyo Olympics freestyle BMX gold medallist Logan Martin, the men’s team sprint world champions, track endurance rider Georgia Baker and para cyclist Emily Petricola.

AUSTRALIAN CYCLIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Sir Hubert Opperman Trophy and road category: Jai Hindley

Women’s road: Grace Brown

Track: men’s team sprint (Leigh Hoffman, Matthew Richardson, Matthew Glaetzer, Thomas Cornish) and Georgia Baker

Mountain bike: Luke Meier-Smith and Bec McConnell

BMX freestyle: Logan Martin and Sarah Nicki

BMX racing: Izaac Kennedy and Lauren Reynolds

Para road: Darren Hicks and Carol Cooke

Para track: Alistair Donohue and Emily Petricola.

-AAP