Holy Haussler!

Heinrich Haussler is having quite the season so far. He finished 8th at Het Nieuwsblad and 12th at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne to kick off the Classics season. Then he came just a tire width shy of winning Milan-San Remo ahead of the fastest man in the world. And in the Dwars Door Vlaanderen today, he was the guy who really shook up the race. With 24 km to go, he launched a blistering attack that Quick Step was able to chase down only due to the fact that they had three guys in the leading group of five.



Haussler wasn't able to win the race in the end. Van Impe took it ahead of Eeckhout. Nor was he able to hold off Boonen for third place. But that's only because Boonen, not having to chase down his teammate Van Impe, was able to hitch a ride for the last 20 km. Nevertheless, today only confirmed that Heinrich Haussler is an emerging Classics star.

What is the secret to his recent success? Clearly it has everything to do with his new and very FGBC-ish kit. Though hardly in the same league as the sweetest jersey in the world, it is without a doubt the sweetest jersey in the pro peloton. As we have become accustomed to in our own racing exploits, the competition is so taken in by the sweetness of the jersey that Haussler, Hushovd, and co. are seemingly able to ride away uncontested. This no doubt explains the odd situation in the local race scene where so much of the competition has taken to wearing the sweetest jersey in the world for themselves. They're just lucky the MCA is, let's just say, lax in enforcing the rules regarding racing attire. You wouldn't get away with that nonsense in Belgium. At any rate, as if it wasn't already obvious with the ripped off jerseys that Cervelo is taking their cues from the FGBC, this photo of Haussler's new post-race routine should settle it.


Those Cervelo cats are so sneaky. They even stole our idea for a fashion show to highlight the sweetness of the sweetest jersey in the world:




Was there a bike race today or something? CN has the lowdown. Watch the final 2 km here:



The Top 30:

Van Impe 350
Eeckhout 300
Boonen 275
Haussler 250
Devolder 225
Hutarovich 200
Chavanel 175
Hayman 150
Weylandt 125
Goddaert 110
Hammond 100
De Kort 95
Hoogerland 90
Sieberg 85
Sentjens 80
Nuyens 75
Burghardt 70
Hoj 65
Leukemans 60
Coenen 55
Boucher 50
Rasch 45
Goss 40
Hunt 35
Guesdon 30
Ladagnous 25
Spilak 20
De Weert 15
Emden 10
Barbe 5


Over in the 2009 FGBC Spring Classics Pool, Cousin Adam, the newly appointed captain of the FGBC road squad, found himself on top of the scrap heap, serving notice to the RRR crew that the FGBC is not about to roll over and die in the FGBC-RRR FGD Challenge. Adam and Donna tied for the win today with 580 points apieve. Paddy took third with 525. Mike G still holds the overall lead. While riding on a BMX no less! But Donna and Adam have bumped KK and David S from the podium for now.

Stage Results:

Adam 580
Donna 580
Paddy 525
Brad 500
Matt 450
Andy 400
Darryl 400
Mike 400
Vic 350
Bill 295
Hal 275
Chris A 250
Dallas 225
Chris O 225
Ian 180
David 175
Jonny M 175
Chris H 70
Rachel 70
Luke 5
Craig 0
Kevin 0
Jonny G 0
Naomi 0
Rick 0


Overall Standings:

Mike 2870
Donna 2465
Adam 2360
David 2295
Matt 2255
Paddy 2250
Kevin 2170
Jonny M 2060
Hal 2045
Chris A 2020
Andy 2015
Brad 2010
Vic 1920
Bill 1920
Rick 1880
Ian 1580
Chris O 1485
Rachel 1435
Darryl 1415
Chris H 1195
Jonny G 1145
Craig 885
Luke 825
Dallas 815
Naomi 355


According to all the media outlets I've seen (both English and Flemish), only 37 riders finished the race. But that seems wierd. So if that turns out to be changed, I will redo the standings in case any finishers were stripped of the 5 points they had coming.