Haussler, favorite for the Classics
Heinrich Haussler has been working hard to return to his best form, according to Garmin-Barracuda’s sports director Allan Peiper. Haussler is showing focus and discipline in order to shine in the Classics.
“I know firsthand that he has lived this winter like a real pro, and he has been really on track since November.” Peiper told Velonation in a video interview.
He underlined that Haussler had been training hard, “I saw a message the other day where Heinrich said that he had been out training and it felt that he didn’t have a chain on. He said that he felt like he had the legs like 2009.”
Haussler and Cavendish lunge for the line...
Haussler’s strong performance in 2009 with Cervélo TestTeam three years ago saw him clock up a series of strong performances. He began with a series of high finishes and second overall in the Tour of Qatar, then clocked up victories on two stages of the Volta ao Algarve. A win on stage two of Paris-Nice followed, then he moved on to Milan Sanremo where he looked the likely winner right until he was passed by Mark Cavendish on the finish line.
Haussler placed second in the Tour of Flanders 2009
Devastated by that loss, he remained focused and placed second in the Tour of Flanders, seventh in Paris-Roubaix, won the GP Triberg-Schwarzwald and then took a solo victory on stage thirteen of the Tour de France. He capped off the season with a stage win in the Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dOy6TlkuV4[/youtube]
Since then he’s been hampered by injury, with such problems in 2010 leaving him short of form in 2011. Still, a stage win in the Tour of Beijing showed that he was coming back. Peiper believes that he’s back on track and while he states that Haussler needs to translate solid form into results, he’s happy with things thus far. “For Milan Sanremo, Heinrich Haussler was close there a couple of years ago and hopefully that is where he can make the difference this year,” he said.
The big focus is on the Olympic Games, though. Haussler is fast as a sprinter but can climb better than many, meaning that he should be a medal contender if he gets his preparation right.