Eneco Tour – Stage 5 – Heinrich Haussler – I’m going to give everything to win a stage here, but I will certainly be even better next week in Hamburg –

The first of three stages at the Eneco Tour, which have been patterned after the spring classics through the Netherlands and Belgium, led to a great tussle among the racers.  As the replica of the Amstel Gold Race ended under a deluge of rain, it also smiled on the bold. Dylan Van Baarle (Garmin-Cannondale) and Johan Le Bon (FDJ), having been in an escape for over 100 kilometers, still managed to keep a handful of seconds ahead of the hard-charging puncheurs sprinting out of what remained of the peloton.  It was Le Bon who found the resources to come out on top for the stage win. Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) took over the leader’s jersey for the general classification since his teammate and overnight race leader, Jos Van Emden, finished 18 seconds back in the final.  For its part, IAM Cycling missed the move to counterattack that was led by André Greipel. Reto Hollenstein, on top of his role as tireless worker for his teammates, came away as the best placed rider for the Swiss team in 16th position, with Heinrich Haussler and Dries Devenyns close behind. The three men arrived in a group of forty riders, which included all the candidates for the final victory.

Heinrich Haussler commented on his demanding day over the Dutch roads, before he started his recovery on the massage table while watching his four month old twins live on his iPhone.  “From the beginning of the race this week, all the stages start off with a bang.  There is no lollygagging early in the race.  We are going à bloc from the moment the stage starts right on through to when the break gets away.  And on narrow, winding roads, where it is always up and down, we have to stay alert.”

“Today was especially difficult particularly with the finish in the rain on a last lap of the circuit that was already dangerous, and then made only more so by the slippery roads.  We were chasing very hard for the last 20 kilometers.  There were riders everywhere, and I was concentrating on keeping a reserve for my sprint, but we never saw the front of the race again.  For my return to competition after a big break, the sensations are good.  I am going to give everything I can to win a stage here, but I will certainly be even better next week in Hamburg.”

Thierry Marichal, directeur sportif along with Rik Verbrugghe, will take away some lessons from this unique stage.  “Sometimes it takes a little luck to win.  Today the two escapees reached their goal by doing some good work together, even if the late downpour hit the dangerous, leg-breaking circuit just in time to give their chances a boost.  For our part, we limited the damage of the breaks in the pack that will influence the final.  With three men in the group of favorites, and with Dries Devenyns there in good form, we are still very much in the running to post a strong result in the overall, and also hope for a stage win on top.”