For many riders in the peloton, a 37km time trial on stage 19 of a three-week race just adds pain on top of pain. With the race almost over it’s just another brutal day for the domestiques to suffer through.
But for Chad Haga and his Giant-Alpecin teammates, this Vuelta a España time trial holds extra significance thanks to its location in the country.
The stage finish in Calpe was the place where the German team suffered a season-changing collision with a car, which left several riders hospitalised with serious injuries.
Haga was one of the riders who collided with the motor, which was reportedly being driven on the wrong side of the road by a British pensioner, leaving the American with serious facial injuries.
But Haga has had stage 19 circled in his Vuelta roadbook as a chance to return to the area of the incident that affected him and his teammates so much.
Finally made it to st19! I always like TTs that suit me, but this one carries special significance: I didn't finish my last ride in Calpe.
— Chad Haga (@ChadHaga) September 8, 2016
Haga made his comeback from the January crash in March and has gone on to race two Grand Tours this season. Fellow crash victim Warren Barguil also started the Vuelta a España, but pulled out on stage three.
