Haussler puts boil behind him to go for victory

Heinrich Haussler, Tour de France 2009, stage 13

Heinrich Haussler’s remarkable ride to victory on stage 13 of the Tour de France came less than a week after the Cervélo  rider had been suffering from a large saddle sore.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly on the race’s first rest day, Haussler  said that the sore had flared up after the Barcelona stage - where heavy rain had thrown up a lot of dirt and grease from the city centre roads.

Four days later in Limoges,  the swelling had finally started to go down but Haussler still avoided preferred to avoid the Cervelo training ride as a precaution.

Fast forward another four days and Haussler  battled through wind and rain and over five classified mountain climbs to take a win which he described as one of the biggest of his career.

"It's a big, big day for me," said Haussler. "I was lucky in spite of the bad weather or perhaps because of it.

"When I realised in the last kilometre I was going to win, I told myself 'don't crash'."

Second in Milan - San Remo behind a certain Mark Cavendish by barely a tyre’s width, Haussler said he was determined the same scenario wouldn’t happen again.

“I was with [Sylvain] Chavanel for a good part of the day, but I kept on telling myself, ‘you’re not going to get second, you’re not going to get second.’”

“Now I’ve won here, I can finally put Milan - San Remo behind me.”

Those surprised by Haussler’s performance in the Vosges should remember his ride in the GP Schwarzwald one-day race in Germany this May. It involves 3,500 metres of climbing and only 20 riders finished. Haussler won.

TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS

Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.

STAGE REPORTS

Stage 13: Haussler braves rain for victory in Colmar

Stage 12: Sorensen wins in Vittel as Cavendish goes for green

Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban's record

Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win

Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire

stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out

Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance

Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs

Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage

Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second

Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage

Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador

Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint

Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Team presentation by Andy Jones

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TOUR GUIDE

Tour de France 2009 - the hub

Tour de France 2009: Who's riding

Tour de France 2009: Team guide

About the Tour de France

FEATURES

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Cycling Weekly's rider profiles

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