Heinrich Haussler Interview
Roadcycling.com talks to Heinrich Haussler at the team's pre-season training camp in Faro, Portugal about his goals for the 2010 season, the sprint finish in last year's Milan-San Remo, riding for Germany or Australia at the 2010 World Championships, and his love for the Cervelo TestTeam.
Roadcycling.com talks to Heinrich Haussler at the team's pre-season training camp in Faro, Portugal about his goals for the 2010 season, the sprint finish in last year's Milan-San Remo, riding for Germany or Australia at the 2010 World Championships, and his love for the Cervelo TestTeam.
Heinrich, you were one of the shooting stars last season and even won a stage in the 2009 Tour de France. What are your goals for this year?
"I will focus 100 percent on the classics. My dream is to win Flanders and I hope it will come true within the next two or three years. Furthermore, I have some unfinished business in Milan-San Remo."
Mark Cavendish beat you there last year just by millimeters and you were devastated...
"Well the first couple of days after the race I was lying in bed for hours and always thinking about those millimeters I was away from winning one of the biggest races. But looking back now it has been the kick for the whole season. I have to ride a bit smarter this year and then I will win my first big race."
At the end of the season there's the world championships in Australia where you were born. Have you decided yet if you will be riding for Australia or Germany?
"It's pretty open at the moment. I just want to focus on the classics first."
But there must be a tendency?
"One problem is that I have to hand in my German passport. This is a decision that must be carefully considered. I actually want to stay in Germany. I like the country very much, there's my future."
Is that the only problem?
"No, of course not. At the World Championships the sport directors would be from Milram and Team Columbia-HTC. That means I'd only be rider number three. For André Greipel the course is too difficult in my opinion. Gerald Ciolek still has to prove he can win such a long race."
So you want to be captain of the German team?
"No, I don't have a problem riding for Greipel. It's just if I was riding the World Championships, I would like to win it. And that was quite difficult in the German team in the past years. From what I saw there was no real captain."
That's very different in your Cervelo team. Thanks to your results you've gained a certain status. Can you imagine ever leaving Cervelo again?
"It sounds a bit pathetic, but I really feel at home at Cervelo TestTeam. I have a contract until 2012 and won't sign somewhere else for any money."