Heinrich Haussler rides on the pro cycling circuit under a German license, but in heart he is an Australian. Born and bred in Inverell, NSW, Haussler delivered Australia its first spiritual victory in the 2009 Tour de France with a stunning solo ride to take Stage 13, a wet and windy 200km trek from Vittel to Colmar.
Haussler was part of a three man break that included such luminaries as French favourite Sylvan Chavanel, and Spainard Ruben Perez. Most would have thought that pair would have had enough climbing power to out-muscle the pseudo-Aussie on a stage that included a cat-1 and a couple of cat-2 climbs, but that was not the case. Haussler and Chavanel first dropped Perez on the cat-1 Col du Platzerwasel. Then on the descent of the climb Haussler struck. Clearly more adept going downhill than the nervy Chavanel, Haussler pressed hard - and created a gap. First 10 seconds, then 20, then 30...then a minute. Chavanel was broken. There were still two more climbs to come but Haussler completed them with ease. By the finish his lead was an amazing 4 minutes, 11 seconds from another Spaniard, Amets Txurukka who burst out of the peleton but could only catch the ailing Chavanel. Brice Feillu, who left the pack with Txurukka, also passed the Frenchman to finish on the podium in third.
As has seemingly been the case in all of the mountain stages so far, all the GC contenders finished together, with none of the losing time...BORING! The organisers have to be held accountable for the lack of excitement in this years race. The last week certainly better be a blast to make up for it!
In fact the more exciting competition this year have been the other jerseys. Thor Hushovd managed to drag himself over all the days cols to finish with the main bunch. Although he was beaten by Peter Velits in the bunch sprint, his 6th place finish was enough to given him a 5 point lead over Mark Cavendish in the green jersey competition. With Hushovd showing at least a bit of climbing ability this year, this competition certainly looks like going down to the wire.
In the King of the Mountains Franco Pellizotti was able to grab his first Polka Dot Jersey after previous leader Egoi Martinez was dropped on the Platzerwasel. You would not back against the young Italian holding it all the way to Paris from here.
Yellow Jersey - Rinaldo Noncentini
Green Jersey - Thor Husvhod
Polka Dot Jersey - Franco Pellizotti
White Jersey - Tony Martin
Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports.
Haussler was part of a three man break that included such luminaries as French favourite Sylvan Chavanel, and Spainard Ruben Perez. Most would have thought that pair would have had enough climbing power to out-muscle the pseudo-Aussie on a stage that included a cat-1 and a couple of cat-2 climbs, but that was not the case. Haussler and Chavanel first dropped Perez on the cat-1 Col du Platzerwasel. Then on the descent of the climb Haussler struck. Clearly more adept going downhill than the nervy Chavanel, Haussler pressed hard - and created a gap. First 10 seconds, then 20, then 30...then a minute. Chavanel was broken. There were still two more climbs to come but Haussler completed them with ease. By the finish his lead was an amazing 4 minutes, 11 seconds from another Spaniard, Amets Txurukka who burst out of the peleton but could only catch the ailing Chavanel. Brice Feillu, who left the pack with Txurukka, also passed the Frenchman to finish on the podium in third.
As has seemingly been the case in all of the mountain stages so far, all the GC contenders finished together, with none of the losing time...BORING! The organisers have to be held accountable for the lack of excitement in this years race. The last week certainly better be a blast to make up for it!
In fact the more exciting competition this year have been the other jerseys. Thor Hushovd managed to drag himself over all the days cols to finish with the main bunch. Although he was beaten by Peter Velits in the bunch sprint, his 6th place finish was enough to given him a 5 point lead over Mark Cavendish in the green jersey competition. With Hushovd showing at least a bit of climbing ability this year, this competition certainly looks like going down to the wire.
In the King of the Mountains Franco Pellizotti was able to grab his first Polka Dot Jersey after previous leader Egoi Martinez was dropped on the Platzerwasel. You would not back against the young Italian holding it all the way to Paris from here.
Yellow Jersey - Rinaldo Noncentini
Green Jersey - Thor Husvhod
Polka Dot Jersey - Franco Pellizotti
White Jersey - Tony Martin
Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports.
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