The Ardennes Classics hold a special place in the hearts of Australian cyclists and Cannondale-Garmin's Nathan Haas is no exception. The 26-year-old is the midst of a third consecutive year of racing the Dutch and Belgian classics, which he entered on the back of sixth place at De Brabantse Pijl for the second straight year.
Two races into the three and it's been a mixed bag so far for Haas who explained to Cyclingnews that his form and condition is there only to be held back by mechanicals.
"One-day races are amazing," Haas said. "After Brabantse Pijl I was sixth again and really felt my legs where in the perfect place for Amstel Gold. I rode the perfect race for myself I felt. I was in perfect position on every important section and at the front of the race when it mattered and then with 10km to go I got a flat tyre on the rear and had about one bar of pressure left. I couldn't find anybody on the side of the road to give me a new wheel and the cars where minutes back so I rode the final 10km with a flat tyre and unfortunately had to start the Cauberg in literally last position as I couldn't go around corners.
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"I was just on carbon and I still managed to ride up the hill into 38th place. It was a really heavy feeling for me getting to the finish when I knew that I definitely had the legs to be in the front group, I have no doubt about it.
"Unfortunately the cycling gods gift of a flat tyre was not what I needed at that important moment of my favourite race of the year so I was quite gutted in all honestly. Its really hard when you know the form was there as opposed to a day when you might have an accident and you don't really see yourself at the front of the race. Amstel Gold for me was very disappointing personally, I think Dan Martin still did a really nice race to be in the front group and that showed a lot of great form for the two upcoming races."
Shifting to a support role at Flèche Wallone has become almost natural for Haas whose knowledge of the parcours and conditions makes him a key cog in the green machine and despite fulfilling his role, the cycling gods cruelled his chances once again.
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