Haussler was again second in the sprint, while new teammate and former track sprint world champion Theo Bos was fourth behind JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank).
“We went close but it was crazy out there,” Haussler said after the stage. “It’s always like that when the stage is so easy, there’s no selection and everyone thinks they’re a sprint and wants to get in there amongst it all. It was pretty dangerous.”
Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas-Doimo) was impressive in the tailwind sprint as he came off Bos’ wheel with 300 metres to go. Yet Haussler was convinced he could have won if he’d been on his teammate’s back wheel and able to benefit from Bos’ spectacular acceleration. “Theo Bos was going to lead me out but I had to came back from 15th position and so couldn’t get on his wheel before he accelerated,” he said. “Roger (Hammond) shouted at him to go and he went, but he didn’t know I wasn’t there. Fortunately we still got second and fourth, or whatever but the plan didn’t work out as we’d hoped.”
Haussler, and the Cervélo TestTeam will have chance of a stage victory on Thursday at the end of stage five from Lusail to Madinat al Shamal over a distance of 142km.
Stage 4 : The Pearl – Al Khor Corniche (146.5 km)
1. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
2. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervélo TestTeam
3. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank
4. Theo Bos (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam
5. Roger Kluge (Ger) Milram
Photo: © TDWsport.com
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