Haig on the Vuelta podium with his son Liam
It's been a long time coming, but Jack Haig finally got his GT breaktrough with an impressive third place finish in the 2021 Vuelta, equaling the best ever Australian GC performance by Cadel Evans from the 2009 edition. And though he got a little lucky with the tactics from both Movistar and INEOS, plus he had a very strong team to back him, he still had to produce the goods himself, which he certainly did. We also have to remember that he didn't start the Vuelta as team leader, and if he had, he possibly wouldn't have lost 1:30 to Mas on Picón Blanco, which could have changed the battle for the podium spots during the race.
His results have been fine this year after he made the switch from Mitchelton-Scott to Bahrain. With a solid 7th in Paris-Nice (though Mäder outshined him there), a great 5th place in Critérium du Dauphiné and a 5th and a 10th on the two first stages of the Tour, he looked destined to at least duke it out for a top 10 position in the final GC, before he sadly crashed out in that much talked about bend on stage 3. After breaking his collarbone he missed the Olympics and didn't even think he'll be racing again this year, but fortunately for him he made it to Burgos and the rest is history.
He is not Monseiur LeClerc, but he is a redheaded Aussie, who turns 28 today. Congratulations, Jack!