Australian rider Nathan Haas started his first Grand Tour determined to move to the next stage of his career and while he has got in over two weeks of top level competition, his participation in the Giro d’Italia ended unexpectedly early yesterday when he hit the deck during stage sixteen.
The Garmin-Sharp rider had been sitting 172nd overall in the race. His best stage placing was 21st on the opening day of the event, but since then things had been more difficult. However he was doing some important work for the team and also building experience for future years.
Haas’s crash saw him suffer multiple and severe contusions plus abrasions, but fortunately no fractures were identified in initial x-rays.
“Its a shame to leave the race this way,” he said. “It was a big honor to be selected for my first Grand Tour and I gave it my all.”
He will now head back to his European base in Girona, where he will give himself time to get over the fall. “I’ll go home, heal up, and focus on what's next,” the 24 year old said. “I'll be watching the boys from home and after Ramunas' [Navardauskas, who was fourth – ed.] exceptional ride today I know they'll continue to do great things.”