Cervélo TestTeam's Heinrich Haussler is back on the bike after injuring his quadriceps tendon in a crash during Tirreno-Adriatico. The German-Australian was expected to be a factor in the Spring Classics after securing second place finishes in Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders last year, but he has been unable to train since abandoning stage four of Paris-Nice last month.
Haussler was able to complete a two-hour ride around his hometown of Freiburg, Germany, and his first big step towards recovery has given him new motivation.
"I was very happy after my ride," said the 26-year-old Haussler. "I had no pain at all during the ride and know that I can now start fully training again and can concentrate on the upcoming races. I especially want to be ready for the Tour de France and be in top form there, like I was last year."
He took a dramatic solo win in the 200 kilometer thirteenth stage of the 2009 Tour by riding away from fading Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel on the way to Colmar.
His team says it will still be some time before Haussler will take the start in a race, and that his schedule will now depend on how quickly he can recover and regain his fitness.