Jack Haig has already shown some great form racing in Australia at the Tour Down Under and Herald Sun Tour. Second overall at the Tour de l’Avenir further proved the Aussie’s potential and he is now full preparing for his neo-pro season with Orica-Greenedge, a deal he knew he had a long time before most other neo-pros do.

Haig points out that he started and finished the season really strongly, but he was prevented from showing his class in the middle due to injuries.

“I was on some good form in the Australian Summer with a seventh place in a stage of Tour Down Under, but I crashed in the Cadel Evans Road Race and broke my elbow. This was one of the setbacks I had this year and probably the worst, but I think I have learnt from all of them during this season and it has probably made me a more prepared rider going into the World Tour next year.

Because, and there’s no doubt about it, I will have similar setbacks at some point of my career,” he told Café Roubaix.

Haig showed his true potential at the Tour de l’Avenir, where he was the second best rider after Marc Soler, who, it is important to note, was already riding his neo-pro year with Movistar, so Haig was the best U23 rider in the race.

“It’s probably one of the biggest results I have had and I believe I raced it quite well. I felt like I was getting better as the race was going on and to be so consistent in stage finishes was good as well. I really liked Tour de l’Avenir, I think it was better organised than last year. It’s also one of the few stage races that we do that really suits me.”

Haig does regret that he didn’t win a race this season, but hopes he can do it for his new employers in 2016, in a professional race.

“I would have really liked to get a win and throw my hands up, but hopefully that will come next year in an even bigger race than we where racing this season.”

Turning his attention to his new team, the young rider spoke about fulfilling a dream, and what races he will begin to live his dream at next year. No Tour Down Under, but he does race the national championships, Cadel Evans Road Race and the Herald Sun Tour.

“Getting to the World Tour it’s kind of something that you dream of, so to make it there means a lot in itself. I really just want to take the first year as a learning year and hopefully set myself up for a long successfully career. I will keep enjoying my bike and maybe get a result or two. But I will not stress about results, because I know they will come as long as I am smart, have fun and work hard.”