After he was linked to Giant-Alpecin for 2017, Heinrich Haussler has firmly denied this rumours and the former Australian RR champion says he still has no deal for 2017 and is in a hard situation.

“I’m in a bit of a tight squeeze situation,” Haussler told Cycling Central. “Once you start talking to teams in August they say, ‘we’re going to wait,’ which is just normal, how it is in cycling, especially with two teams closing. They’ll milk it because, for sure, in October there’s still going to be 40- 50 guys out there. It would be better to already have something in the bag, especially now. I think differently now with a family, kids, you want more security. However, I have a good manager.”

Haussler says he is preparing for the Autumn Classics with renewed vigour as he seeks to prove he is worth a contract. As well as Giant-Alpecin, Bora-Hansgrohe are also reportedly interested.

Since he joined IAM, Haussler has had a new lease of life, winning his nationals for the first time, as well as being able to sprint for the win in Roubaix this year, taking sixth there and seventh in Sanremo.