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Race report: Haussler leads Garmin-Cervélo in bunch sprint

September 02, 2011 - Filed under: Team Garmin-Barracuda

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Heinrich Haussler finished with a group five seconds back of the winner in Thursday’s hilly transition stage at the Vuelta a España.

The pack split up on a rising finale into Pontevedra in the 167.3km 12th stage across the green hills of Spain’s Galicia region. Peter Sagan won his second stage and Bradley Wiggins retained the leader’s jersey.

Garmin-Cervélo’s Christophe Le Mevel and Andrew Talansky both took big turns at the front in the final 50km to help reel in a four-man breakaway. Paris-Roubaix champion Johan Van Summeren took over in the final kilometers to shut it down to set up the peloton’s fast
sprinters.

With Tyler Farrar and Murilo Fischer both out of the Vuelta with injuries, Haussler did his best in the sprint. Haussler crossed the line 42nd at five seconds adrift.

Dan Martin crossed the line 11 seconds back and settled into 23rd at 4:44 back.

The 66th Vuelta continues Friday with the 158.2km 13th stage from Sarria to Ponferrada in a mountainous route that should see a breakaway challenge for the stage victory.

Fernández said the team will probably hold its fire to save strength for this weekend’s monster climbs at Farrapona on Saturday and Angliru on Sunday.