Print

Mail

wiki links

Heinrich Haussler wins sprint for first stage of Dauphine

Bradley Wiggins rides during the first stage of the Dauphine Libere Criterium in Grenoble, France, on Monday. Photo: AFP

German rider Heinrich Haussler won a sprint finish for the 219km first stage of the Dauphine Libere Criterium on Monday between Grenoble and Roanne in the Loire Valley.

The 23-year-old Gerolsteiner rider crossed the line ahead of Belgium Tom Boonen and Australian Graeme Brown after the longest stage of the race.

Britain's Bradley Wiggins of Cofidis holds the leader's yellow and blue jersey after finishing safely in the pack.

Boonen would have been expected to dominate the final sprint but he found himself short of team-mates, with only Steven De Jong to accompany him after mechanical trouble robbed him of most of his lead-out men, including Gert Steegmans and Kevin Hulsmans.

Boonen was following Australian Graeme Brown with big Norwegian Thor Hushovd in his shadow but no one saw Haussler sneaking up the other side.

"That's my best sprint. To win in front of Boonen is always an achievement," Haussler said.

"I think he's the best sprinter in the world alongside [Alessandro] Petacchi, who is probably slightly better in the big tours," he said.

"I'm trying to develop as a sprinter to get some big results in the classics," Haussler said.

Boonen lamented a mistake in his tactics.

"I launched the sprint too soon after what happened to Steegmans and Hulsmans," he said.

"In these conditions I'm satisfied with what I did. I passed Brown but for Haussler it was the easiest sprint of his life," Boonen said.

This was the longest stage of the race so far.
This story has been viewed 795 times.