Heinrich Haussler, runner up in the 2009 editions of Sanremo and Flanders, says he hopes his move to Bahrain-Merida can allow him to finally win a Monument.

After that brilliant 2009 season, which also saw him win a Tour de France stage and take sixth at Roubaix, Haussler’s career fell away with injuries and bad luck. In his beloved Classics, the Aussie’s only notable results were sixth in Flanders and 11th in Roubaix in 2006.

However, after joining IAM Cycling a few seasons back, Haussler’s career ignited. He won his national championship in 2015 and this year was seventh and sixth in Sanremo and Roubaix, giving him hope there is a Monument win in his future.

"The thing was, I had the option of going to another team and working for a big captain for the Classics. I know I can also do that well, but with Bahrain they said 'we want you as our leader for the Classics'," Haussler told Cyclingnews. "I don't want to stop cycling and say 'ah maybe in that year I could have taken that chance, or done this or that'. I'm 32 now, I've still got a few more years in me, but time does fly past. So I want to try and do everything I can while I can."

Haussler admits he doesn’t have the strongest Classics team with him, but he said Grega Bole and Borut Bozic are more than capable helpers, as should neo-pro David Per, who won the U23 Flanders this year.

"As long as you get a bit of support at the beginning, then at the end, you just need the legs – simple as that. If you don't have them you're not going to be there," he said. "I wouldn't say I'm a 'sniffler', but I know how to weave my way round, especially in Harelbeke, Flanders, Nieuwsblad, Kuurne, I say I know these roads just as well as the Belgians, and that can save a lot of energy."

Haussler says while he believes he can win a Monument, he is still hungry to just chase good result in general.

"Winning is a big step – I'm not saying I'm going to win Roubaix, though I think it's possible. But getting on the podiums and in the top 10's at the Classics still motivates me as a realistic prospect.”