Jack Haig's new Avanti Corsa SL(Image credit: David Rome)
Haig was racing on some of the shallowest wheels we saw - the lightweight Dura-Ace C24 tubular wheels(Image credit: David Rome)
The Di2 sprint shifters poke through the bar tape ready for an attack(Image credit: David Rome)
An empty Garmin Out-Front mount shows that Haig's SRM is connected to a Garmin Edge series computer(Image credit: David Rome)
The headset spacers on top show that Haig isn't committed to his current position, which not surprising considering how new the bike is(Image credit: David Rome)
Haig uses a Specialized Romin Pro saddle and a long seatpost off a mountain bike(Image credit: David Rome)
These 'Kenda SC' tyres aren't advertised by Kenda and share plenty of similarity with 23mm wide VeloFlex Carbon tubulars(Image credit: David Rome)
Haig's power is recorded with a new Shimano 11-speed SRM(Image credit: David Rome)
Blackburn supply the bottle cages(Image credit: David Rome)
Haig's bike features a rather basic Easton EA70 handlebar(Image credit: David Rome)
The direct-mount rear brake isn't ideal for the mechanics who use frame mount workstands(Image credit: David Rome)
An integrated seatclamp creates a smoother surface(Image credit: David Rome)
Long, thin chainstays and a slim 27.2mm seatpost help to create a smoother ride quality(Image credit: David Rome)
The rear brake can be opened via this switch at the cable housing(Image credit: David Rome)
The rear brake cable is routed through the down tube and exits before the bottom bracket(Image credit: David Rome)
The long-standing team has a new title sponsor for 2014 and is now the Avanti Racing Team(Image credit: David Rome)
Much like the new Trek Madone's, the direct mount brake sits very close to the crank arm. Not ideal if you want to run a left-crank mounted power meter(Image credit: David Rome)
Jack Haig. It's a name you may not have heard before, but soon it will be hard to ignore. Haig won the best young rider classification at the 2014 Santos Tour Down Under, while riding in support for his Uni-SA teammate, Caleb Ewan.
His recent results give a glimpse of a very bright future for the 20-year-old from Bendigo, Victoria. Last year, Haig was the 2013 Australian National Road Series overall winner, and also won the U23 Cross-Country National Mountain Bike Championships, with lap times comparable to elite men's World Cup rider Dan McConnell.
For 2014, Haig is part of the Avanti Racing Team, a team that has developed riders such as Richie Porte, Nathan Earle, Nathan Haas and Steele von Hoff. We caught up with Haig and his very bright and light Avanti Corsa SL during the Tour Down Under.
The Corsa SL Team is Avanti’s new flagship race frame and prioritises lightweight and stiffness over aerodynamics – the latter is taken care of by the Corsa DR frame.
A stand-out feature of Haig's Corsa SL is the Shimano Dura-Ace direct-mount rear brake, hidden underneath the box-section chainstays that stem straight from the full width of the bottom bracket. Up top is a smoothly blended integrated seat clamp that holds a 27.2mm seatpost, along with uninterrupted seatstays to provide additional compliance.
With a full Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 drivetrain and matching SRM, the build is every bit as good as those of his professional competitors' bikes. The small addition of Di2 sprint shifters on the drops is a surprise - it's more often seen among sprinters.
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Haig’s choice of lightweight over aerodynamics continues with his Dura-Ace C24 wheels, an indication that he’s a true climber. With his bike coming in under 7kg, it was the lightest we weighed during our time in Adelaide.
The team lacks a saddle sponsor, so Haig has provided his own Specialized Romin Pro perch. Haig is tall and lanky and rides a comparatively small frame, so a longer seatpost from another brand is used to get his required seat height.
And what does 2014 hold for Haig? "I’m planning to do well at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour to set up my road season," he said. "But I’m also focusing on Mountain Bike Nationals, Oceanias, and the first two World Cup rounds. Hopefully that will earn me a spot in the Commonwealth Games mountain bike team."
Complete bike specifications
Frame: Avanti Corsa SL CR6, M/L size Fork: Avanti ADT CR6 tapered Headset: Internal tapered (unbranded) Stem: Easton EA90, 130mm, -10 degree Handlebar: Easton EA70, 42cm (c-c) Tape: Zero micro wrap Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace 9010 direct-mount Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070 Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 + SW-R610 sprint (on drops) Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000, 11-28T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 Crankset: SRM Shimano 11-speed, 175mm, 53/39T Bottom bracket: Shimano BB-71 press-fit Pedals: Shimano 9000 Dura-ace Wheelset: Shimano Dura-ace C24 tubular Front tyre: Kenda 'SC' (appears to be 23mm-wide Veloflex Carbon) Rear tyre: Kenda 'SC' (appears to be 23mm-wide Veloflex Carbon) Saddle: Specialized Romin Pro Seatpost: Felt aluminium, straight Bottle cages: Blackburn Camber CF (2) Computer: Garmin out-front mount (computer not pictured)
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.90m (6ft 3in) Rider's weight: 68kg (150lb) Saddle height from BB, c-t: 796mm Saddle setback: 73mm Seat tube length (c-t): 505mm Seat tube length (c-c): 490mm Tip of saddle to center of bar: 585mm Saddle-to-bar drop: 120mm Head tube length: 165mm Top tube length (effective): 565mm Total bicycle weight: 6.92kg (15.22lb) without Garmin
