Heinrich Haussler will not win a stage of the 2013 Tour of Switzerland after all. Haussler had been close with 3rd place in the opening time trial at Quinto, 6th at Buochs, and then 5th Wednesday in Leuggern, but the Australian puncheur fell heavily after only 10 kilometres had been raced in the 6th stage yesterday, which took the riders from Leuggern to Meilen; Gregory Rast (RadioShack-Leopard) won out of a four man breakaway. 

After his fall, Haussler was unable to remount his bike and instead finished his day in the emergency room of the hospital in Uster. During his transfer there, Haussler was able to give some explanation of what happened: “The pace was very high in the bunch. We had done 10 kilometres and on a long straightaway, there was an unexpected slowdown; we ended up falling on each other like dominoes.” 

IAM Cycling team doctor, Jacques Ménétrey, treated the unfortunate athlete before announcing his diagnosis. “Heinrich Haussler suffered bruises and multiple wounds on the left side of his body, a fractured pelvis and a small fracture on the left hip. He will rest in hospital for the next day or two before returning to his home. His comeback is not likely before the autumn.” The stage was marked by several crashes, including one that brought down IAM Cycling’s Stefan Denifl, though his injuries were not sever enough to keep him from finishing with the peloton.