Heinrich brings the Hauss down

Heinrich Haussler’s daredevil descending saw the Cervelo TestTeam rider earn his first Tour de France victory today in the 200km ride from Vittel to Colmar.

It was a stunning ride from the 25-year-old who took Stage 13 four minutes 11 seconds ahead of Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Amets Txurrukax, with Brice Feillu (Agritubel) in third.

Haussler had led for the majority of the stage along with Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Quick Step captain Sylvain Chavanel, and at one point the trio were nearly 10 minutes ahead of the peloton.

However, their lead was slowly eaten up on the most difficult climb of the day, the category one Col du Platzerwasel, and Perez Moreno was caught on the descent.

Haussler started to pull away from Cheval with some audacious descending and extended his lead on the small Col du Bannstein.

And the Australian-German kept up the pace on the second-category Col du Firstplan to storm to victory in his maiden Tour.

Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2R) retained the race leader’s yellow jersey, with Astana pair Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong six and eight seconds behind respectively

Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia-HTC) appeared to suffer under the weather conditions today and conceded the green jersey back to Cervelo’s Thor Hushovd.

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) took the polka dot jersey off Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) who now has three points fewer than his King of the Mountains rival.