Australian climber Jack Haig (open in new tab) will join Bahrain McLaren (open in new tab) on a three-year contract, it was announced Thursday.

The 26-year-old Haig makes the move after five seasons with Mitchelton-Scott, where he won stage victories at the Tour de Pollogne and Vuelta a Andalusia. Haig has also established himself as one of the most valuable mountain domestiques in the peloton in recent years and will be part of Mikel Landa's support team.

Hague, who finished second in Andalucía earlier this year, was a national U23 champion before switching to the road, racing on the Continental circuit in Australia.

"I am very excited to be joining Team Bahrain McLaren in 2021. The team is still in its infancy, but the people within the organization have exceptional drive, talent, and expertise. After five wonderful years at Mitchelton Scott, I am ready to take on this new challenge and contribute to the journey of Team Bahrain McLaren."

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Bahrain McLaren recently announced that McLaren will end its co-sponsorship (open with new tab) next season, as the team has been reorganized around former Movistar and Ineos drivers Randa and Wout Poels, Vincenzo Nibali, Rohan Dennis and Domenico Pozzovivo departed, and the team was redecorated for 2020.

Rod Ellingworth also moved from the British team to become team principal. He said that Hague has an exciting future ahead of him at Bahrain McLaren.

Ellingworth said, "We want each rider to push themselves and see what they can do. In Jack's case, he showed potential. But for us to have the kind of success we want for our riders, we need everyone on the team to be looking in the same direction. [At Team Bahrain McLaren,] we have built that kind of culture. I look forward to working with Jack and helping him achieve his personal goals."

"I am very pleased to be working with Jack and look forward to helping him achieve his personal goals.