Worlds Week: a chat with Heinrich Haussler
Heinrich with the thousand yard stare after checking out a very muddy course at the UCI World Cup in Namur, Belgium.
Photo: @h.haussler
Most years there are a small handful of hardy CX racers from Down Under who trek over to Northern Europe to take part in the UCI Cyclocross World Championships. It’s fair to say that they don’t normally come from the same background as the only Aussie at this year’s worlds.
Heinrich Haussler is one of Australia’s longest-serving road professionals, having ridden at the highest levels of the sport since 2005. His palmarés includes an Australian national championship in 2015, multiple podium finishes at races like Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders, and stage wins at the Vuelta a España (in 2005) and the Tour de France (in 2009).
Despite his distinguished list of results on the road, when it comes to cyclocross he’s like most of us - an enthusiastic amateur. We had a chat with him ahead of his first CX World Championships in Ostend, Belgium.
What’s your CX background? How did you first get involved in the sport?
Actually I have no CX background at all! I did my first CX race last winter just for a bit of fun with a friend [ed: former German U23 champ and fellow Elite Men’s competitor Sascha Weber] and straight away I was hooked and loved it.
You’re better known for your exploits on the road than in the mud - what’s been the draw of CX this season? Was it pandemic-related, or just mixing up your training with something new?
After my first race I was immediately addicted to the sport. Cross is so hard and demanding that when I do this during the winter, the benefits for the classics are massive. Especially at my age [Ed: 36] you lose a lot of your top end power, fast twitch muscles and explosiveness - all things you train like 1000 times during an hour of full gas racing. For me there are only benefits and I love the sport.
What’s your CX strength?
Hahahahahaha. I don‘t think I have any real strengths for cross!
What’s your CX weakness?
Sand, mud and just in general the technical skills that you need.
What are your hopes/expectations for this weekend’s worlds?
To be 100% honest I would be over the moon if I could finish the race without MVDP [Mathieu van der Poel] and Wout [van Aert] catching me from behind!
Haussler tackles his first cyclocross race in October 2019.
Photo: @h.haussler