Heinrich Haussler to skip world road championships

The season from hell for Heinrich Haussler continues as the Australian has decided he will not participate in the world championships in Australia on October 3.

The 26-year-old was initially part of the pre-selection for the Aussie national team, but his name did not figure on a list released Tuesday by the Australian cycling federation of its worlds team.

“If I were to go to the start line at the world championships, I would want to be 100 percent in shape and able to ride for the victory. This will unfortunately not be possible for me,” said Haussler in a Cervélo team release. “It would have been a dream to start on home soil but I am not ready yet. My main focus is now already on next season, where I want to perform well again in my favorite spring classic races.”

Haussler has been dogged by knee pain, missing out on the spring classics and all three grand tours. He won a stage at the Tour de Suisse, but then crashed out before the end.

After it was obvious he could not be ready for the Tour de France, Haussler underwent surgery in June.

Cervélo team officials said Haussler is recovering well and will be “back in competition this autumn but only when he is fit and ready to race.”

Haussler was hoping to debut with the Australian national team in time for this year’s worlds. He recently changed his cycling affiliation from Germany to Australia and was hoping to compete on Australian roads in October.