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.
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.
-
-
Ben Swift successfully defends British National Road Race title
The Ineos rider outlasted Fred Wright on the Michaelgate climb to the finish line
By Jonny Long •
-
Pfeiffer Georgi wins British National Road Championships
The DSM rider attacked up the Michaelgate climb to seal the victory
By Jonny Long •
-
Michal Storer says he ‘knew exactly what he needed to do to win’ on stage 10 of Vuelta a España 2021
The Aussie took another huge victory in Rincón de la Victoria
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Vuelta a España 2021: Romain Bardet out of GC after heavy crash on stage five
The Frenchman was well placed and was looking in good form heading into the mountains
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
‘This is one of the biggest disappointments of my career’: Nicolas Roche devastated after abandoning Vuelta a España 2019
Nicolas Roche said abandoning the 2019 Vuelta a España is one of the biggest disappointments of his career.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Warren Barguil sent home from Vuelta a España for 'not following team plan'
Team Sunweb make unusual decision to withdraw Frenchman Warren Barguil from the Vuelta a España after he "didn't conform to the team's goal"
By Nigel Wynn •
-
Why isn't Tom Dumoulin racing the Vuelta a España? Team Sunweb prioritise long-term Tour success
Team Sunweb are considering Tom Dumoulin's long-term development, and winning a future Tour de France, instead of racing him in the Vuelta a España.
By Gregor Brown •
-
Warren Barguil set to lead youthful Team Sunweb squad at 2017 Vuelta a España
Spanish Grand Tour could be Barguil's final race in Sunweb colours
By Henry Robertshaw •
-
This video of a Giant-Alpecin rider flicking a bottle away with his wheel is mesmerising
Tobias Ludgivsson shows off his skills by calmly flicking a stray water bottle off the road with his wheel
By Stuart Clarke •
-
Dumoulin's Vuelta performance has the Dutch dreaming of Tour de France glory
Tom Dumoulin was the surprise leader of the Vuelta a España after 19 stages, leading the Dutch fans to start dreaming of their first Grand Tour winner since 1980
By Gregor Brown •
