Such was Heinrich Haussler's grin as he pedalled through the finish area in Cassano d'Adda that one disappointed member of the Giacomo Nizzolo Fan Club was convinced that it was the Australian who had denied their man victory on stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia. "It was Haussler who beat Giacomo, it was Haussler," he lamented.
In an ad-libbed finale to the stage, however, it was not the IAM Cycling sprinter who claimed the honours, but a member of his lead-out team. Roger Kluge clipped off the front in the final kilometre to land victory, while a frustrated Nizzolo had to settle for yet another second place finish.
"It's amazing. If there's one guy who deserves to win, it's Roger. He was trying to help but then had the legs to win the stage himself. He was super, super strong in the final kilometre," said Haussler, who rolled home in 15th.
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Kluge's victory was IAM Cycling's first at a Grand Tour in its four-year history and arrived just 48 hours after founder Michel Thetaz confirmed that the team would disband at the end of the current season.
"It’s been a tough Giro so far. We tried and tried in the sprints but it never worked. With the news of the team stopping, it was the perfect hit back from Roger. We all have our future in our hands and Roger did he job today," Haussler said.
Haussler and his IAM Cycling teammates were informed of Thetaz's decision to end his sponsorship and disband the squad during Monday's rest day, though the news had been in the air for some time.
2017
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