Chad Haga will convey the curtain down on his street profession on the finish of this season earlier than switching his focus to gravel racing in 2024. The American made the announcement on social media on Monday.
After turning skilled with Optum in 2011, Haga graduated to the WorldTour in 2014, when he joined Large-Shimano – later Sunweb and DSM. The Texan would spend eight years with the staff, and he was a key a part of the squad that helped Tom Dumoulin to general victory on the 2017 Giro d’Italia.
The person spotlight of Haga’s profession would come on the 2019 Giro, when he received the ultimate time trial in Verona. The Texan had received a silver medal within the staff time trial with Sunweb on the earlier yr’s Innsbruck Worlds.
Initially of final season, Haga returned to his first skilled staff, now often known as Human Powered Well being. It’s not but clear if the American squad will be capable of safe sponsorship for subsequent season.
Haga, who strains out with Human Powered Well being on the Tour of Denmark this week, confirmed on Monday that he would swap to the gravel scene in 2024.
“Once I started this journey as a full-time bike racer in 2011, I may solely dream of what I’d accomplish. Now, so a few years later, I’ve checked practically all the bins, in addition to numerous bins I could not have imagined again then,” Haga wrote.
“I’ve completely loved the racing household of @humanpoweredhealth these final two years, and I’ll end my season on the street as deliberate.
“Then it is time for me to maneuver on to the following factor, which, because it seems, remains to be racing bikes! This should not shock anyone who follows my coaching (and my foray into gravel racing with The Traka), however I am taking my abilities to the gravel subsequent yr!”
The 34-year-old made his gravel debut within the Traka occasion in Girona in Could, putting eleventh. He has but to formalise his gravel schedule for subsequent yr.
“It is early going now, so I am nonetheless defining what that is going to appear like, however I am excited and nervous in a manner I have not been earlier than,” Haga wrote. “I am praying for the correct doorways to open as I assemble this undertaking, as they’ve for my complete profession.”
The tip of the street…. Once I started this journey as a full-time bike racer in 2011, I may solely dream of what I’d accomplish. Now, so a few years later, I’ve checked practically all the bins, in addition to numerous bins I could not have imagined again then. 1/nAugust 14, 2023