Heinrich Haussler fought back tears after he put his cycling career back on course with a dramatic Australian championship win.
The 30-year-old from the NSW country town of Inverell, who switched from a German licence five years ago so he could race for Australia, will wear the green and gold champions' hoops on his jersey through this European season.
Haussler beat new star Caleb Ewan on Sunday in a riveting sprint finish to the men's elite race, the last event of the Australian road cycling championships.
"It's means everything to me," Haussler said.
"When they were playing the national anthem, I seriously had to hold myself back there otherwise the tears would have come down - just happiness.
"There have been a lot of bad years where you go to races, get dropped ... and you think to yourself 'what's the matter?'
"I knew it would come back, I just had to put the hard work in."
Haussler roared with elation and gave an emotional two-fingered salute as he crossed the finish line.
Video also showed his chain came off at the finish, but by then he was a wheel length in front.
Ewan again showcased his vast potential with an outstanding ride at Buninyong near Ballarat, while domestic Avanti rider Neil van der Ploeg also enjoyed the best result of his career by taking third.
Pre-race favourites Richie Porte and Cadel Evans never featured at the front of the 183.6km race as rivals eventually marked them out of contention.
The star pair finished 52 seconds behind Haussler in the main bunch - Evans 11th and Porte 22nd.
The forecast rain stayed away, but conditions were overcast and windy.
Despite the more benign conditions, only 57 out of the 149 starters finished.
In 2009, Haussler showcased his vast potential by winning stage 13 of the Tour de France and finishing runner-up in the Milan-Sanremo and Tour of Flanders one-day classics.
But a knee injury ruined his 2010 season and he has struggled for consistent form since.
Also in 2010, Haussler switched to an Australian racing licence.
Haussler, whose Dad is German, had gone to that country as a 14-year-old to chase his dream of a professional cycling career.
He was in an initial 15-rider break that formed in the first half of that race.
As Simon Clarke and then Pat Lane made solo breaks, a decisive 18-rider break formed on the 15th of 18 laps around the tough Buninyong circuit.
The Drapac team used their weight of numbers to ensure the peloton was kept at bay.
The front group was whittled down to six riders on the last lap and with just over 3km left, Haussler was able to rejoin them after being dropped on the Mt Buninyong climb.
After Ewan launched his sprint, Haussler came around him for the win.
Ewan also won silver in Wednesday's criterium and these were the only podium finishes for the powerful Orica-GreenEDGE at these nationals.
GreenEDGE and their women's arm Orica-AIS had dominated the previous three nationals.
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