Dollars and sense

It makes complete sense to me why Heinrich Haussler decided to changehis mind and turn his back on Australian cycling - financial sense,that is, writes Michael Tomalaris.

It makes complete sense to me why Heinrich Haussler decided to change his mind and turn his back on Australian cycling - financial sense, that is.

After all when it comes to sport (and professional cycling in particular), the corporate opportunities in Germany far outweigh those available in Australia.

Haussler is the most celebrated and successful rider currently carrying a German licence and it goes without saying his career has exploded into life in the last 12 months.

At a time when German cycling is screaming for a new hero, in an era when many fans of the sport in that country are bombarded and disillusioned by dope cheats, Haussler is seen as a rider who can bring restored faith.

German cycling has effectively thumbed its nose at Haussler since he turned professional in 2005.

That was the year he first came to international notice when taking stage 19 honours at the Tour of Spain.

Few Germans realised then who he was, let alone Australian followers of world cycling.

Here was an Aussie-born journeyman who had taken the advice of his influential father and decided to follow a dream by leaving the town of Inverell in country NSW to pursue a career on the big stage.

It's a great story - one that would make for good reading in any sport's journal.

Haussler told SBS in July of Germany's failure to recognise or acknowledge him even after his solid performances at the Milan-San Remo in March this year when he finished runner-up, and his top-10 showing at the Paris-Roubaix.

Only when tears of joy welled his face on crossing the finish line in Colmar in the Tour de France did German cycling change its tune, especially as Haussler made it publicly obvious that Australia was his country of choice.

He openly explained how he "felt more Aussie than German" even after having lived there for more than 10 years.

He explained how his only support came from fans following his career from his country of birth.

Interestingly, despite his allegiances to Australia, Haussler had never really pursued the idea of formally applying for an Australian license.

I'm told to this day he has never officially contacted Cycling Australia and outlined his future plans of possibly wearing the green and gold at next year's road World Championships in Victoria.

Too bad, because he would have been one of the first selected on current form.

As a dual citizen, it seems to me Haussler may be 'hedging his bets' on who he decides to represent. Don't get me wrong he has every right to do so if he desires.

As far as I can tell, Haussler is a true-blue Aussie - he's Aussie through and through. But does he owe Australian cycling anything? I'm not so sure.

Unlike other Australian-born sportsmen and women who have been raised here and developed their skills through the various institutions such as the AIS, only to turn their back on their country, Haussler didn't have that opportunity.

Fast-forward to August 2009, and it wouldn't surprise me if Haussler is suddenly being lured by the big cheque books to keep his German license.

If he can make a decent living from representing his chosen sport as a German, I say good luck to him.