Giro d'Italia: No regrets for Haas after late attack foiled in Cagliari

Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) finished fourth behind Quick-Step's Fernando Gaviria on the Giro d'Italia's third stage after trying a late attack from the lead group, but he had no regrets Sunday in Calgiari. The Australian knew he had to give it ago in one of those 'you just never know' moments rather than giving Gaviria an easy time before the sprint.

The Colombian won the stage and took the pink jersey, but Haas took confidence from trying, enjoying an emotional day of racing, with his sister at home in Australia about to give birth.

Haas was one of just ten riders to make it into the echelon when Quick-Step hit the front with 10 kilometres left to race, splitting the peloton like they so often do in the Classics. He tried a solo move with 400 metres to go as the road turned to huge stone blocks. He knew he had to try something to try to beat Gaviria before the sprint finish, but a headwind made it difficult to stay away.

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"Maybe I'm going to get 50 lashes from my directeur sportif for not waiting for the sprint but at the same time, I don't wait. For sure, it was a bit early and they came around me but you just never know," Haas said after the stage.

"On stage 1 there was another 'you just never know' moment [when Lukas Pöstlberger won alone and took the first pink jersey]. Everyone was hesitant in the echelon, that's why I was racking it up on the back and thinking about the long bomb."

"Gaviria is really fast, he really is, even Cav is scared of him, even though he can beat him. I'm the kind of racer that hates more than anything to give someone a win and not give yourself a winning opportunity. I was in the finale, I had a chance and so I said: 'Go!'"

Impressive form, impressive echelon riding

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