The Coffee Ride #54 with Reece Homfray
NEW Australian cycling champion Heinrich Haussler has been compared to one of the nation’s greatest ever in Simon Gerrans but remains a longshot to follow in his footsteps and win next week’s Tour Down Under.
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HAUSSLER ‘JUST LIKE GERRO’: SUNDERLAND
NEW Australian cycling champion Heinrich Haussler has been compared to one of the nation’s greatest ever in Simon Gerrans but he remains a longshot to follow in his footsteps and win the Tour Down Under next week.
National championship race director Scott Sunderland, who has known Haussler since he was a boy growing up in Inverell, says Haussler has the form to win a stage in Adelaide but is unlikely to challenge for the overall title.
“He’s not a pure sprinter but he’s quick. He’s like Gerro (Simon Gerrans). Gerro is not a sprinter but he’s very quick after a long, hard day,” Sunderland said.
“That’s how you have to classify them. They’re an all-round rider and he’s (Haussler) very similar to Gerro in that way.
“Going on (Sunday) he lacked a bit on the climb and he will definitely be up there in the finishes (in Adelaide), but if we’re looking at GC, he may come a bit short on Willunga.
“Let’s wait and see. Sunday it was 18 laps over Buninyong, Willunga is only twice. He may make it.”
Sunderland met Haussler’s German father who was passing through Inverell and saw the young cyclist grow up.
“I’ve known Heinrich since he was a baby,” Sunderland told The Coffee Ride.
“His dad was always passionate about sport and football and found cycling when he came to Australia. He enjoyed riding himself and that’s how little Heinrich got into it.”
He said he had not had a lot to do with Haussler in recent years as he battled injuries and form, but was pleased to see him emerge the other side and become Australian champion.
“I had quite a bit of contact with him before and then during those times I didn’t hear from him. I always thought if he wants to reach out I’m always there,” Sunderland said.
“But I think he was battling through a lot of things on his own and it was a process he needed to get done by himself. He had the right people around him in Germany and he just needed to work through it and he’s done that.
“That always builds character and defines who you are, so I think he’s reached that again and is back on track.”
Sunderland said Haussler rode a great race to win in Buninyong on Sunday.
“He gave himself the best opportunity and he didn’t give up. He kept fighting for it. He was dropped on the climb the last time over and he did a really good descent. He didn’t panic and got back for the victory,” Sunderland said.
“To be honest all those guys who were out the front deserved to win and Heinrich came out on top.”
SAY FAREWELL TO CADEL
FOR those gearing up for next week’s TDU, The Advertiser is running a great promo to help you support your favourite riders.
You’ll be able to pick up your very own Farewell Cadel cow bell available free* exclusively when you buy The Advertiser on January 17 or the Sunday Mail on January 18 from participating On the Run outlets
We will also be giving away Farewell Cadel cowbells and T-shirts from The Advertiser’s Tour Parade vehicle along the route at each stage of the TDU (including the People’s Choice Classic).
GERRY FAILS TO LAND
IF Caleb Ewan had won Sunday’s road race in Buninyong, ORICA-GreenEDGE would have been celebrating without owner Gerry Ryan in Ballarat.
Ryan missed the race because his helicopter was unable to land due to strong winds and low cloud.
The Coffee Ride understands Ryan’s helicopter got to within 15-20 minutes from Ballarat but was forced to turnaround due to the conditions.
The strong winds also played havoc on the ground by causing race-defining splits in the bunch throughout the day.
10 CONCLUSIONS FROM THE ROAD NATIONALS
1. Caleb Ewan is a class act
Two moments during last week’s national road championships impressed me the most about Caleb Ewan — and neither involved him turning a pedal.
He was superb in winning a silver medal in both the criterium and road race but it was how he conducted himself afterwards.
Beneath the surface, Ewan was bitterly disappointed to have lost both races, perhaps more than we will ever know.
But within five minutes of both results, Ewan — still just 20 years old — walked into the media scrum, smiled politely and spoke coolly, calmly and confidently about what had just happened.
It’s not what you’d expect from a sprinter. They’re supposed to be fiery, bad tempered, throw their bikes and kick the car tyres after a narrow loss, let alone two in a row.
But Ewan is the opposite, as Steele von Hoff pointed out after the criterium.
Ewan also fronted up after losing the road race with the same measured demeanour and smile.
He probably made some mistakes on the final lap which cost him — attacking up the climb for one.
But consider how impressive it was for the rookie professional to find himself in the winning move in the first place, cover every attack from riders desperate to unhinge him only to fall agonisingly short of victory.
“He’s a young rider. You’ve got to follow your instinct and I was the same when I was younger. If you feel good, you just want to attack and show yourself,” Haussler said of Ewan post-race.
“It could have gone the other way. He could have made it solo to the finish so you’ve got to take your chances and go for it.”
2. Comeback kids
Everyone loves a comeback.
Kimberley Wells missed last year’s criterium with illness and had to follow the race on Twitter. This year she won it for the second time.
Richie Porte battled pneumonia during the Tour de France which wrecked his season. This year he won the TT in the best field ever assembled for a nationals.
Shara Gillow endured the toughest year of her career — then reclaimed her national TT title and was third in the road race.
And Heinrich Haussler came in from the cold after years in professional cycling’s wilderness to suggest his best might yet be to come.
Everyone loves a comeback and all winners followed the script to perfection.
3. CA won’t be changing the course any time soon
Despite persistent nagging from riders (mostly sprinters) who want Cycling Australia to change the course for the national road championships, Buninyong is here to stay.
And this year’s racing confirmed as much after it allowed a mountain biker to win the women’s race and three sprinters to fight it out in the men’s.
Then there were the crowds up Mount Buninyong which, despite less than ideal weather conditions, were as lively as ever.
4. A little fuel on the fire
Peta Mullens perhaps had a point to prove by winning the women’s road race at nationals. She claims she had a conversation with Martin Barras last year about a desire to ride the road and mountain bike to Rio in 2016. But Barras’s reply was less than enthusiastic.
After deciding to focus on mountain bikes, Mullens won the national women’s title and said Barras might be getting another phone call.
Asked about Mullens’ comments on the weekend, Barras said as the national coach he wished Mullens would dedicate herself to riding the road full time.
“I appreciate why she doesn’t want to do that,” Barras said.
“Would we be interested in a bike rider like Peta Mullens? Yes, we were talking with her last year. We’re still talking about it.
“I wouldn’t say I laughed (at her suggestion) — ‘despondent’ is the best way to put it.
“This being said, it’s a conversation we’re willing to entertain again.”
5. Rise of the young guns
Can you believe that three of the top five in Sunday’s men’s road race were neo pros.
Caleb Ewan (20), Sam Spokes (22) and Campbell Flakemore (22) announced their arrival in the elite ranks with brilliant performances on debut in a national championship.
And this was a field that included seasoned pros in Mick Rogers, Cadel Evans, Richie Porte, Adam Hansen, Matthew Hayman and Simon Clarke.
Yet the young guns, who are all in their first year out of under-23s, upstaged the lot on a tough course where there is nowhere to hide.
6. Budget grinning from ear to ear
There was some uncertainty when Budget Forklifts announced a partnership with Cycling Australia to take on its team pursuit boys as to which party would benefit the most.
Well, any concerns the road team would play second fiddle to CA’s track ambitions were quashed in one week as the team produced some brilliant performances in Ballarat.
Scott Sunderland, who in July won the 1km time trial at the Glasgow Comm Games, won a bronze medal in the men’s criterium, then Jack Bobridge made it two bronzes in two days in the men’s time trial.
The bright yellow Budget kits also littered the peloton in Sunday’s road race where they more than matched the WorldTour competition.
7. Drapac has work to do
Drapac on the other hand would have loved a medal at the national titles but went home empty-handed.
The team brought some action to Sunday’s road race and Sam Spokes’ performance to finish fifth was the highlight of the week, while Darren Lapthorne and Will Clarke animated the race with aggressive riding.
The criterium was perhaps their best chance with Brenton Jones and Graeme Brown but that didn’t quite go to plan. They didn’t trouble the podium in the time trial and the road race was a case of close but no cigar.
Drapac has the team and the talent. They just need to put it all together.
8. Jack has plenty left in the tank
Jack Bobridge has not enjoyed the last few years on the WorldTour. At his third team in Belkin after stints with Garmin and ORICA-GreenEDGE, he needed a change.
Fatherhood, returning to the track and moving back to Australia looks at this very early stage as the perfect tonic.
The 25-year-old produced an enormous ride for third place in the time trial then backed it up with sixth place in the road race following his fifth place last year.
He’ll next be seen in the TDU with UniSA, then it’s on to his hour-record attempt at the end of the month.
As they say, a happy rider is a good rider.
9. Women’s cycling is on the agenda
It seems a good way to measure the state of women’s cycling is not just by the quality of racing but by the relevance it has in the wider discussion of the sport.
CA’s decision to put its women’s road development program on hold this year made headlines.
Bridie O’Donnell’s animated discussion about a range of topics also got equal coverage. Then Rochelle Gillmore’s announcement of her new team High5 was met with excitement.
Not only did we get a thrilling women’s road race on Saturday but the fact that issues surrounding women’s cycling were given national media attention is a good indication it remains strong, competitive and important.
10. Angus Morton is back
Four years ago Angus Morton crashed his bike in the Tour of the Murray River and decided to rack it for good.
There were even times he hoped he’d crash just so he could abandon a race.
But last year when brother Lachlan, who rode for Garmin-Sharp, decided to go on a training ride from Port Macquarie to Uluru, Angus joined him. The result was he fell in love with the sport again.
On Sunday riding for the Jelly Belly team, Morton finished seventh in the men’s road race. An honest course produced an honest winner and honest top-10.
His result reminds us just how talented he was as a junior and that it’s never too late to make it happen.
NOW YOU SEE HER, NOW YOU DON’T
ANNETTE Edmondson has been known to pull a rabbit out of a hat on the bike and win from seemingly the impossible position.
But now she’s tried her hand at magic for real — well almost.
Edmondson was part of The Advertiser’s photo shoot with sports photographer Sarah Reed to mark the opening of The Illusionist 1903 at Festival Theatre this week.
Edmondson was dressed as The Clairvoyant for the photo shoot, which also featured Port Adelaide’s AFL captain Travis Boak.
WHILE ALEX SIGNS WITH GREENEDGE
STILL on the Edmondsons, in case you missed the news Alex has signed with ORICA-GreenEDGE from 2016 onwards.
The multiple track world champion will continue on the boards to the Rio Olympics before making the switch to OGE full time.
Considering the team has now secured Caleb Ewan, Jack Haig, Alex Edmondson — and expect more signings soon — as well as the Yates brothers from Great Britain, it’s a fairly impressive stable they’re forming.
You can read the full story HERE.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK …. (from the road nationals)
“There’s been a lot of bad years where you go to races, you get dropped, the guys go up the road and in the sprint you can’t follow and you think to yourself ‘what’s the matter?’. I knew it would come back eventually, you just have to put the hard work in.”
- Heinrich Haussler after winning Sunday’s elite men’s road race.
“Every single person in that peloton did not want me there at the end, and I knew it, from laps 10 onwards they all let me know about it.”
- Kimberley Wells on the battle to win her second national criterium title.
“Relief, delightness — oh that’s not a word — but you know what I mean, I’m just amazed that I came through with that, I put so much pressure on myself today.”
- Steele von Hoff conveys his emotions after winning the criterium.
“She should be ashamed of herself that full time professional athlete sitting on an old woman with a job like me.”
- Bridie O’Donnell doesn’t hide her disappointment at Shara Gillow riding behind her during the women’s TT.
TWEET, TWEET
@CalebEwan exceeded expectations yesterday against the big boys and handled himself with class after the disappointment of coming so close.
— Baden Cooke (@badencooke) January 11, 2015— Baden Cooke on young gun Caleb Ewan.
Originally published as The Coffee Ride #54 with Reece Homfray
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