96th Tour de France - Live Part 3
Cervélo TestTeam's Young Gun on the attack on the final climb of the day with six minutes on the chase... can he finish solo for the win in Colmar?

Tour de France 2009
Stage 13 Vittel - Colmar 200 km,
Friday 17th July 2009
Live Ticker PART THREE

phic © 2009 tour de France/ASO
Welcome to part 2 of today's Ticker
Current Race situation:
1633 CEST - 30km to go
Haussler is well clear here. He's 56 seconds on Chavanel with 4 minutes ahead of the main chasers and 6'34 on the peloton. There is no power to chase him down and the peloton won't chase him down. He's starting the Col du Firstplan. Results of the Col du Bannstein: 1. Haussler (4pts), 2. Chavanel (3pts), 3. Txurruka (2pts), 4. Feillu (1pt)

Reporting by Chris Graetz

1641 CEST - 29km to go
Haussler has 1'09 on Chavanel now as he prepares the final climb of the day. The chasers are still over 4 minutes behind the peloton 6 minutes behind. This is Haussler's stage to lose. He needs to do a long time trial here. Chavanel is struggling, although it looks like he might be getting back, but it's too late one would suggest. Unless Haussler hits the red on the climb,
he has this. Let's go Haussler. Go Aussie Go!

The peloton are now 7'18 as Haussler is looking fantastic on this climb. I think it's safe to say this is going to be a win to Haussler. His first Tour de France win!!

1646 CEST - 25km to go
It's a formality here for Haussler. He has 1'44 on Chavanel. The chasers are 4'32 behind and the peloton are a further 7'32 behind. This is going to be a famous win for the German born Australian.
4 km to go to the top of the climb. You can do it Heinrich. Hold on.

In the peloton there is a silence lotto rider at the front. Will Cadel try a move here today? Astana are keeping the tempo slow. They havn't chased the rider that has attacked. It's hard to see their riders in these raincoats. No point in burning matches at this point for the Astana crew.

Chavanel is really hurting here. He'll try again another day. Meanwhile, Txurruka is riding well with Feillu. That Silence Lotto rider that has attacked is Charlie Wegelius. The peloton are still holding him in sights.

Andy Schleck has a mechanical again. He's had a bike change. This is not the right time for him to get caught out but he'll be fine. He's being paced back in and he'll be in the field soon. But seriously, Andy's bikes are cursed here. Three riders are helping Schleck back in the peloton. He's about to catch up now.

1652 CEST - 23km to go
Haussler has 2'39 on Chavanel. The chasers are still 4'46 behind and the Peloton are 7'40 behind as Astana are starting to apply the pressure in the peloton.

Orange Warrior - Euskalte's Txurruka has launched an attack from the chase group. Venga Venga!! Feillu could almost be climbing into yellow tonight.

Haussler is still looking strong up the climb. I don't think he can't get caught from here. With 20.7km to go, he has a huge advantage. He'll descend well here and take the best win of his career. Ag2r now have moved to the front of the peloton to help control this race. If they are not careful, they could almost lose the yellow jersey here.

Haussler has now reached the top of the Col du Firstplan with 20 km to go, he has a nice descent and flat finish. He will be hurting, but he knows now that in 20km time he'll win. Txurruka is about to catch Chavanel and will probably take second place today.

1702 CEST - 18km to go
Txurruka has caught Chavanel who looks really spent today. Haussler has around 4 minutes on the man in orange with Feillu who could almost catch Chavanel himself soon. Txurruka has caught Chavanel who looks really spent today. Haussler has around 4 minutes on the man in orange with Feillu who could almost catch Chavanel himself soon.

The official time gap is 3'43 seconds between Haussler and Txurruka. Barring a major incident, Txurruka takes second place here. Cheer on the German-Australian Heinrich Haussler. He deserves this victory today.

GO HAUSSLER YOU BLOODY LEGEND. You can almost here the cheers in Australia and Germany now!

Haussler is cruising along now with still 3 minutes over Txurruka. Chavanel and Feillu are nearly 5 minutes behind wit hthe peloton 6'26 behind. The road is wet but it's not stopping this 25 year old German-Australian.

Results of the Col du Firstplan: 1. Haussler (20pts), 2. Txurruka (18pts), 3. Chavanel (16pts), 4. Feillu (14pts), 5. Pellizotti (12pts), 6 Nibali (10pts)

Both Haussler and Txurruka are riding without rain coats; it can be pretty cold and miserable with the rooster tail of water spraying your back as you race through the rain... though the level of exhilaration our two leaders have on chasing the win with the gaps they have it will be the last thing on their minds.

Txurruka is trying hard but he's still around 3 minutes behind Haussler. Feillu is looking good and Chavanel looks like he might have recovered somewhat. But it's too late. With 8km to go, Haussler owns this stage.

1714 CEST - 7km to go
Haussler currently has 3'53 on Txurruka, 4'10 on Chavanel, 4'55 on Feillu and 7'04 on the peloton. Haussler currently has 3'53 on Txurruka, 4'10 on Chavanel, 4'55 on Feillu and 7'04 on the peloton. How do we call the last 6km when we know the winner?

Saxo Bank and Astana are still leading the peloton putting a steady pace down.

6 km to go for Haussler. Cheer him on. He's nearly there correction before. i said Cervélo hasn't won a stage, they have with hushovd.

5 km to go, the crowds are cheering Haussler on and so am I. Go you Aussie! It's still raining and he's stormed home here.

4 km to go - the gaps are: Txurruka 4'12, Chavanel somewhere between him and Feillu who is 5'30 behind and the peloton 7'12. The yellow jersey is looking in a comfortable position. Nocentini holds yellow for yet another day. And again tomorrow more than likely. Good result for Ag2r holding that jersey for a week.

3 km to go, Haussler is a happy man. You can see it on his face. Behind the pain, behind the rain, he's a happy man. Feillu is about to catch Chavanel. Chavanel is hurting here!

2 km to go, Chavanel can't follow the wheel of Feillu. Courage Chavanel!! He is struggling big time here. The peloton could almost catch him

Haussler has 1km to go for the best victory of his very young career. Taking the corners slow and safe. In front of a massive crowd he has the victory here. He attacked and he did an awesome job at it.

Haussler is happy. He's just crossed the line and put him hands over his face and lifted his arms in a victory salute.

Heinrich Haussler Wins!!!

Two wins in the Volta Algarve, a win in Paris Nice and GP Triberg Schwarzwald doesn’t compare to a win in the Tour de France. Heinrich Haussler has now won the biggest race in his career spanning five years. The Australian-German has crossed the line in a taking it in a stunning solo performance.

He showed guts and courage today in horrible conditions and he has prevailed to give Cervelo Test Team their second win of the 2009 Tour de France after many second places.

Txurruka still has a few corners to negate before he crosses the line for second place. Txurruka just crossed the line 4'12 behind in second place. An honourable second place here for the man from Euskaltel - Euskadi. He rode well. He attacked on the last climb and caught Chavanel on the way who was part of the original break.

Brice Feillu crosses the line 6'12 behind. After a victory last weekend, this is an excellent third place for the Frenchman from Agritubel. Chavanel crosses the line 6'31 behind in fourth place with the peloton coming home 6'43 behind; the tough French rider of Quick Step was able to hold off the chase.

Unfortunately this victory doesn't' fall under Cycling Australia for Haussler. What a shame. But there are many Australian's, particulary in Inverell who will be cheering him on. Velits led the peloton home with Thor Hushovd claiming 6th place. Hushovd just might reclaim the green jersey a bonus for the Cervélo TestTeam.. what a day for the new team. Haussler was born and raised in the town of Inverell, New South Wales, Australia, before leaving for Germany in 1998 at age 14 to pursue a dream of being a professional cyclist. Haussler turned professional in 2005 and shot to prominence with a stage win in the 2005 Vuelta a España.

Stage 13 Results (top ten)
1. Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) 4:56:26
2. Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel) 4'11
3. Brice Feillu (Agritubel) 6'13
4. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) 6'31

5. Peter Velits (Milram) 6'43
6. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) 6.43
7. Vladimir Efimkin (Ag2r) 6.43
8. Bradley Wiggins (Garmin Slipstream) 6'43
9. George Hincapie (Columbia HTC) 6'43
10. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) 6'43

Overall Classification
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r) 53:30:30
2. Alberto Contador (Astana) :06
3. Lance Armstrong (Astana) :08
4. Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) :46
5. Andreas Kloden (Astana) :53
6. Tony Martin (Columbia) 1.00
7. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) 1.24
8. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) 1.49
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) 1.54
10. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) 2.16

Thor Hushovd does reclaim the maillot vert of points leader. Hushovd did well to get back to the peloton after the climb and the 6th place gave him 15 points and he now leads Cavendish by 5.

Liquigas' Franco Pellizotti steps to the podium to accept the polka dot jersey leading Euskaltel's Egoi Martinez by 3 points. The next to arrive is Tony Martin claiming his umpteenth maillot Blanc as the best Young Gun in the tour.

Heinrich Haussler returns to receive his well deserved red bouquet and red dossard as the most combative rider of today's stage...

And finally our race leader for the 7th day, Ag2r la Mondiale's Rinaldo Nocentini slips into a new maillot jaune with the help of the tours lovely podium lasses.

At this point in the tour none of the above competitions and classifications are set in stone. Each is a race inside the race and the competition will be stiff for the leaders to keep the colored maillots on their backs.

Join us tomorrow for stage 14. With two Category 3 climbs half way through the stage and flat for 80 km, we should expect the sprinters teams to head to the front and go for their last win before Paris. The run in to Besancon should be a mass sprint finish. Columbia/HTC will be back on front tomorrow to see Cavendish has a shot at reclaiming the jersey to go with his green sunglasses.

Thanks for choosing the Daily Peloton for your coverage of the 2009 Tour de France. We hope you enjoyed the coverage and continue to do so.. Thanks to Nick Bull and Vaughn Trevi for joining me in the booth today. We'll be back with results, photos and team and rider reactions so stay tuneed.