Despite a crash in the recent Volta ao Algarve, Cérvelo TestTeam rider Heinrich Haussler is still focused on the upcoming Tour of Flanders.
Haussler's crash occurred in stage 3 of the Volta ao Algarve during the fast start. Fortunately, he was able to continue and finish the stage.
“He complained of some pain in his knee but he seems to be all right and did complete the stage,” said Marcello Albasini, Cérvelo TestTeam director, at the conclusion of the stage. He finished sixty-sixth, two minutes and six seconds back.
Hauuser started stage 4 of the Volto ao Algarve with kinesio tape poking out from under his left sleeve, likely the result of the previous day's crash. However, the stage proved to be too much and Haussler withdrew, while RadioShack's Sebastien Rosseler scored his team's first win with a solo victory.
Obviously unperturbed by Haussler's knee pain from crash, Cérvelo TestTeam manager Jean-Paul Van Poppel is confident about his rider's form.
"Heinrich is on schedule. Last year he was perhaps too early on form and last week it took some restraint not to force [his form]", said Van Poppel to Sporza. "He wants to show at all the classics, but he is focused on the Tour of Flanders."
This Saturday the classics start with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad where Hausser's teammate, Thor Hushovd, is the defending champion. However, according to the Het Nieuwsblad neither Hushovd or Hausser will be lining up. Hushovd is suffering from a cold and Hausser is still recovering from his injured knee.
Haussler's previous best at the Tour of Flanders was last year where he finished second behind QuickStep's Stijin Devolder. Hausser had impressive results throughout 2009, with a second by millimeters to HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish in Milan-Sanremo, seventh in Paris-Roubaix and eighth in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
This year he has won the sprinter's jersey at the Tour of Qatar with his consistency showing he is on track for a big Spring.