'Being extra of an influential participant' an goal for Jack Haig in profession reboot with Ineos Grenadiers

Jack Haig is a rider who is aware of what it’s to face on a Grand Tour podium. Nevertheless, he is been clear for a while now that his focus is now not on chasing a return for himself to these revered steps, it is on serving to information a teammate in the direction of them, which is a part of the explanation why his shift to Ineos Grenadiers in 2026 looks as if an ideal pairing.

The crew has been clear that its objective is to work its method again to the highest step on the Tour de France, with signings like Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin bolstering the ranks of future contenders. Nevertheless, with skilled riders like Geraint Thomas retiring on the finish of final season and Luke Rowe the yr earlier than, there may be one other a part of the image that might do with some fortification, and that is the place the 32-year-old Australian is available in.

“Possibly they have been lacking some extra skilled guys that actually know the right way to steer the ship in the proper path in sure important moments,” Haig informed Cyclingnews in Geelong, forward of the Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Highway Race, the place he completed his first block of racing along with his new crew.

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“I hope I can step into that.”

Haig hasn’t had many crew modifications by the last decade he has already spent within the WorldTour, beginning out with the Australian Orica-GreenEdge squad, which has now morphed into Jayco-AlUla, after which spending the final 5 seasons at Bahrain-Victorious.

In his first yr at Bahrain Victorious, in 2021, he claimed third place on the Vuelta a España. Nevertheless, it was the will to repeat the feat of 2018, when he was a part of a Grand Tour-winning crew with the Australian squad, and Simon Yates claimed the highest step on the Vuelta, that drew Haig to the British outfit.

In actual fact, it was “the apparent selection” given Haig was “actually trying ahead to becoming a member of a extremely huge crew that has the aptitude to podium at a Grand Tour and doubtlessly even win one.”

It wasn’t precisely a straightforward yr to be out of contract, not with Arkéa-B&B Resorts folding, the merger of Lotto-Intermarché, and big-name transfers comparable to Remco Evenepoel and Onley. Nevertheless, Haig opened up discussions early and despite the fact that it was a late affirmation, he’s clearly content material with the result as he secured a two-year take care of a “most popular selection”.

“I believe it is a very nice place that I can restart the profession, discover a bit extra motivation, discover a bit extra enjoyment, and simply be a part of a pleasant setting,” mentioned Haig.

After a few seasons which were moderately lean on the outcomes entrance for each Haig and his former crew, the Queensland-born rider who moved to Bendigo as a teen is hoping the change in groups may even alter that.

The goal for the season forward, he says, is “to attempt to get again to the extent that I used to have, and actually get pleasure from bike racing once more, and be on the entrance of the bike race, making some form of important choices in important moments – hopefully being extra of an influential participant.”