Haussler’s dedication nets new Bahrain-Merida contract

Manama : Bahrain-Merida’s Heinrich Haussler has been rewarded with a one-year contract extension after proving his health and fitness in the final months of the season.

The Australian suffered throughout most of 2017 with a serious knee injury. He raced only six days in the first six months of the year but came back strongly in the second half of the year with a run of one-day performances.

Haussler’s career was at one point hanging by a thread but Bahrain-Merida team manager Brent Copeland was so impressed with the Australian’s determination that he has extended the rider’s contract for a further twelve months. Haussler will now concentrate on another spring Classics campaign.

“Haussler is staying on board. We’re keeping him for another year,” Copeland said.

“We saw how much he was working with gym work and swimming. He was doing everything possible to keep his body in good shape when he was off the bike. We saw that dedication and that’s why we decided to give him another year. We need someone for the Classics but we saw all the hard work he was willing to put in. His knee is much better, and we could see that at the Worlds. We definitely need him for next year.”