Jack Haig doubtful about his performance in upcoming Paris-Nice: "The wind and bad weather always play a role here"

Jack Haig had a less-than-ideal year, as he had to withdraw from the season early following his infamous crash during the cobbled stage of the Tour de France. He began this season at Vuelta a Andalucia, The Australian remains somewhat uncertain about his performance in future races.

He reflects on the major accident and the moments just prior to it that he remembers. “I thought I was out of trouble on that stage. We had completed the most difficult cobble sections, and there were still one or two relatively easy ones left.”

Click here to create your own team for the Fantasy Paris-Nice (At least 3,195 USD/3,000 Euro/2,665 GBP in prizes!)

“It was a bit calmer in the reduced peloton. There seemed to be more tension towards a new strip, and I can remember that Jumbo-Visma wanted to move up. I didn't see the hay bale after the roundabout at all, and unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he told SBS Sport.

He had to stay in the hospital for a while after the crash, and by the time he recuperated, the season had mostly ended. “I fell on my wrist at 40 miles per hour. It was badly broken. It was extremely disappointing that this crash ruined my season. The pulse was also the reason my recovery took so long. I haven't been able to cycle outside for nine weeks and it was especially frustrating because I've had bad luck for two years now.”

His next outing will be in Paris-Nice, but he is not particularly confident about his performance. Nonetheless, he views this race as a vital stepping stone on the path to his ultimate goal for the year, the Giro d'Italia. “Paris-Nice will be my first test. The wind and bad weather always play a role here, so it's especially fun for the fans. It is not always fun to race in that weather. I hope I can finish in the top ten and ideally in the top five. Hopefully I will take a good feeling with me to the Tour of Catalonia and the Giro afterwards,” concluded Haig.