Stage Win For Aussie at Tour de France?
Heinrich Haussler is a name that not too many Australians were familiar with when he came onto the cycling scene around four years ago. You look at it and think it is a German. SBS commentators admitted the same when talking about him in years gone by. Why would Australians want to know about him?
It is not until you dig into his history that you become aware that he was actually born in Australia and spent the first 14 years of his life in Inverell and inland town in New South Wales, Australia. He was born to a German father and an Australian mother. He decided it was best for his cycling career to go to Germany when he was 15.
Haussler is now someone you can put down as a Tour de France stage winner. On a wet miserable day in the east of France and not far from his base in Germany Haussler took advantage of some steep climbs to break away from the field. It was a 200km stage from Vittel to Colmar.
It was after going over the summit of the category one-rated Col du Platzerwasel along with Sylvain Chavanel that the Cervelo team rider attacked on the descent to quickly open up a gap on the Frenchman.
Haussler, who said he loved the wet and cold conditions was now out on his own with the stage to be won. He had around a seven minute advantage as he headed towards the finish line in Colma . In the end he crossed 6min 43sec ahead of the peloton. The look on his face said it all as he crossed the line. He was overcome with emotion and thanks to his huge advantage he could enjoy the moment.
Chavanel really bombed and could only just manage to cross the finish line seconds ahead of the peloton. Spaniard Amets Txurruka of the Euskaltel team was second, at just over four minutes behind, while Frenchman Brice Feillu of Agritubel was third at 6:13.
In an interview after the stage it was clear that Heinrich Haussler had spent time in Australia as he still had more of an aussie accent than a German one. There is also talk of him now wanting to get and Australian cycling license which will see him compete for Australia in the future.
In the overall classification things did not change up front. Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong are still poised to snatch the yellow jersey from Rinaldo Nocentini who is just six seconds ahead of the Spaniard and eight ahead of Armstrong.
Not much is expected to change in stage 14, it is Sunday’s 207.5km 15th stage from Pontarlier to Verbier in Switzerland that is likely to see the yellow jersey hopefuls put up their hand.
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