Australian climber Jack Haig continued Mitchelton Scott's strong start to the season by finishing second overall behind Astana's Jacob Fuglsang at the Vuelta a Andalucia. Haig came into Sunday's final stage of the individual time trial in third place, but was able to overtake Bahrain McLaren's Mikkel Landa for his second runner-up finish of the season.

Haig was Michelton's designated leader in the Spanish stage race, also known as the Ruta del Sol, after finishing second overall behind Tadey Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana two weeks ago.

He finished seventh in Sunday's final stage, 24 seconds behind stage winner Dylan Tuns (Bahrain McLaren) and second-place Fuglsang, but 34 seconds ahead of Landa, so Fuglsang took the overall title by 59 seconds over Haig, and Landa was a further 13 seconds back in third place.

"After coming into the TT in third place, I didn't particularly expect to move up, so to move up to second overall is a great feeling. It's a great start to the season," Haig said on the team's website.

"When they told me before the race that I would be second I was incredibly happy. 'It's been an incredible week, minus the little mishap in the race the other day, and the guys on the team have done a great job helping me every day.'

Haig was steering Tuns on Friday's third stage on the final sharp right turn toward the finish in Ubeda at the head of a group that included Fuglsang and Landa. However, Tuns could not see the curve, perhaps because he was in shadow on the cobblestone road.

The Australian had to stop and unclip to get back on course.

However, Haig recovered on the fourth stage to Grenada the next day and moved into third place overall, ahead of Fuglsang and Landa.

"One stage win, one overall podium, and as far as how the team rode together every day and the goals we set before the race, we did it all this week," said sport director Laurenzo Lapage.

"All of our riders finished this race in good condition and are ready for the next big goal. We know that everyone is healthy, that they worked hard over the winter and that they have made another step forward here."