Heinrich Haussler tips Aussie team to handle the Doha heat at 2016 UCI road world championships

SPRINTER Heinrich Haussler believes team unity and cohesion can help Australia’s riders challenge for the podium of cycling’s world championship road race in Doha Sunday night.

Cyclist Heinrich Haussler at Geelong Cycle Club. Picture: Mitch Bear.

SPRINTER Heinrich Haussler believes team unity and cohesion can help Australia’s riders challenge for the podium of cycling’s world championship road race in Doha Sunday night.

The 2015 national champion, who rides professionally for IAM Cycling, said Australia does not have one of the pre-race favourites but can fly under the radar to produce a big result in the 257.5km epic.

The race is expected to be held in stifling heat prompting riders like Haussler to arrive in Qatar a week early to acclimatise to conditions.

Despite preferring much cooler conditions of a European spring, Haussler did not hesitate putting his hand up to represent Australia for a fifth time after being part of the team in 2011, 12, 14 and 15.

“World championships is always a special race and that’s why I want to turn up,” Haussler told News Corp.

“The Aussie team comes together really good, not like some other nations, it means something special and when you come here to represent your country it’s 100 per cent not just the last race of the year and ticking a box.

“I know how it (body) will respond to the heat — the last times I’ve raced the nationals or Tour Down Under, I need a bit more time to get used to the heat.

“Being a world championships I wanted to do it properly, 100 per cent, and that’s why I came in earlier.

“I think I”m coming into the worlds in really top form so I hope it’s going to be good.

“The weather forecast for Sunday says no wind or less wind, but that can change in the next few days.

“But I love racing (Tour of) Qatar, the crosswinds is my cup of tea, I love that style of racing.”

Haussler does not believe this year’s team is as strong as the past but that doesn’t mean they can’t get a result.

Caleb Ewan and Michael Matthews are expected to be protected riders while Mark Renshaw is one of the world’s best lead-out men and Mathew Hayman an experienced road captain. Haussler said he knows his role in the team and is not targeting the race win.

“Some might disagree with me on this but I don’t see us as one of the strongest teams compared to the last years with Bling or Gerro,” Haussler said.

Haussler all smiles. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“Just because it’s so late in the season there are a few guys missing with injuries or sickness or fatigue.

“The Italian team or Belgian team — every single rider there could do a top five finish but it’s going to come down to team work and being united and that’s one of our strengths.

“It’s all about positioning, the last few laps with the roundabout and tight corners, putting whoever is the designated riders to do the lead out up the front the last couple of kilometres as fresh as possible so they have a chance.

“This year there is no one favourite, every nation has one or two sprinters and every nation could be world champion.”

The 32-year-old from Inverell in NSW skipped the Australian summer this year and went on to have a consistent sprint with seventh in Milan-San Remo and sixth in Paris-Roubaix but things didn’t happen as he wanted after that.

He got sick before the Tour of Utah and crashed in the last 200m at Cyclassics Hamburg.

“The first part of the season up until April was really good and the rest of it I was happy with my training and form,” he said.

“I only did the Giro (d’Italia) to get three weeks of racing in my legs and after that had a break and did altitude training but after that it just didn’t go right.”

With IAM Cycling set to fold at the end of the season, Haussler has already signed with new team Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling and will be one of its top Classics riders.

“I want to finish the year off well and really look forward to next season,” he said.

“Going to a new team, new environment, new culture and new challenge.

“I’m 32 but I’m still very, very motivated and I want to give it a really good shot.”

2016 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

DOHA, QATAR

257.7km

Sunday night, 9.50pm

TV: Live SBS2

Betting: $5 Andre Greipel, $5.50 Peter Sagan, $6 Mark Cavendish, $7 Fernando Gaviria, $8 Marcel Kittel.

Australian team: Zak Dempster, Luke Durbridge, Mitch Docker, Caleb Ewan, Steele von Hoff, Heinrich Haussler, Mathew Hayman, Michael Matthews, Mark Renshaw.

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Originally published as Heinrich Haussler tips Aussie team to handle the Doha heat at 2016 UCI road world championships