Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) rode an unexpected trip in the breakaway to a fifth-place finish atop San Andre de Teixido during stage 4 at the Vuelta a Espana on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Australian jumped into an 18-rider move that got away after a hard, fast start to the day when it seemed the peloton was not going to let any escapees have an easy time of it. After two hours of racing, however, a breakaway finally stuck.
"From the start, it was a typical Vuelta stage," Haas said. "Everybody is so hungry for a last-minute result, and yesterday the break stayed away, so already there was blood in the water and the breakaway sharks were out to play again today."
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Haas admitted it was not the team's plan at the start of the day that he should go in the move, but circumstances on the first climb of the day presented the opportunity, and he jumped on it.
"I was just trying to stay with the field on the first climb, and I was OK doing just that, but I didn't have ambitions to go in the breakaway today," he said. "I was our option for the finish from the peloton, but then 20 guys slip away after the first climb and I was in a good position to go with.
"Racing instinct always says never hesitate, race by feel and don't overthink things. So I got in there and then we quickly realised it would be the break for the day," he said. "I was really struggling with the heat, though, but it was me and [Dimension Data teammate Merhawi] Kudus there, so I tried to protect myself."
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