Heinrich Haussler: Cycling Tribe Interview

 

Recently I spoke with Cervelo Test Team rider Heinrich Haussler about being selected in the long team for Australia, and his hopes regarding the upcoming World Championships. Unfortunately two days later, Heinrich was ruled out of the squad. After giving this careful consideration, it was felt that the other topics discussed with Heinrich would be of a benefit to the wider cycling community as we covered topics such as choosing between riding for Germany & Australia, and moving to Germany as a youngster.

An in depth look behind the scenes of the decision and Heinrich's difficult year can be seen in my article on  CycleSportNews.

All photos courtesy of (C) Bart Hazen - dailypeloton.com 

CT: Heinrich, with World Championship around the corner, how are you dealing with the lead-up and the possibility of representing Australia?

HH: I’m feeling quite confident actually- Assuming everything goes to plan, I’d like to think I’m capable of a podium position. Without sounding like a big-mouth… Just quietly confident.

 

HH: My preparation has been far from ideal! I’ve had ongoing problems with my knee, surgery, muscle rehabilitation. All of this has obviously affected my training. I’m focused on building up my strength, and have been doing quite a bit of specific exercise. But today I did a 5 hour ride, and I actually felt great. So I’m recovering well. I’m happy with how things are going…

 

HH: Definitely not. It was a personal decision based purely on what I wanted. Based on what I felt was right… Every time I come to Australia to see my family, I feel at home. I feel Australian, and will represent Australia based on that. It was a fairly straightforward decision.

 

HH: When I went overseas, it was very different to today. I mean, it was tough back then. There were very few races because of where I lived [in the country]. I’d get driven 100’s of kilometers for a short handicap race. There was no support within cycling back then.

Nowadays, youngsters have structured support, such as the A.I.S and other institutes throughout the country. I’d say going solo overseas is an unforgettable experience. But in the interests of their own success, I would still say young riders should utilize the support at hand.

 

CT: Le Tour De France. Stage 13. Tell us more about the day that thrilled the Australian cycling world.

HH: Well… It was amazing! It’s by far the biggest win of my career. On most other days, my job was to look after the leaders of the team. But this day was different. The team Directeur gave me free reign. “Heinrich, you’re free to go”. So I went.

The stage finish was near my hometown, so my family and friends were there to watch. I remember watching the Tour De France when I was a kid, and I’d dream of winning a stage. And here I was doing it! To be honest, it was emotionally overwhelming – especially with my parents watching.

 

HH: As I said before, it was tough for me living so far away from any major races. And it’s the same for kids today, living in the same isolated circumstances as I did. It’s tough.

It’s also a huge expense, traveling to races, accommodation and also trying to afford a decent bike. So to try and help out, I figured we should take the racing to the country. This is an opportunity to give back to the sport of cycling, and to provide these youngsters with the same opportunity as those who live in the cities, closer to the racing scene.

 

HH: World Championships I’d hope! Right now, I’m just happy to be riding my bike, and riding pain free! The Worlds course [in Geelong] suit me, so who knows… The next few months are unscripted. Anything is possible.

Joey is Cycling Tribe's newest writer, he's an elite level racer in Melbourne with TFM. To learn more about Joey visit his website Joeys Racing.