Going into the penultimate turn in today's stage of the Tour de Suisse, Henrich Haussler was in a very good position on the wheel of Matthew Goss but a crash halted his progress. The Australian still managed to get 8th in a sprint he described as very dangerous.

The 183 kilometer fifth stage of the Tour of Switzerland from Ossingen to Büren an der Aare, unfolded just about as expected, and ended in a bunch sprint.  Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) took the opportunity to celebrate a victory after the hectic sprint was marred by a crash within the last few hundred meters.  There were no changes in the overall classification.

Heinrich Haussler, one of IAM Cycling’s specilists for finishes of this sort, did succeed at being the best placed rider on the Swiss team.  Haussler, however, was not overly satisfied with his 8th place. 

"The stage today was actually relatively simple, straightforward.  There were no major difficulties and the beginning of the stage was not too hectic." 

But with the tailwind, the stage was getting faster and faster as the sprinters' teams kept trying to take control of the day.  IAM Cycling also hoped to play a role and launch Haussler in the sprint.  But the crash shortly before the line hampered all their efforts. 

"The last few kilometers were very hectic.  There were so many roundabouts, changing directions and traffic islands that it was actually a very dangerous sprint. 

"I was in a good position right behind Goss, but he and Cavendish and some other riders crashed right in front of me on the second-to-last corner.  After that, the gap to the front few riders was too large so I could no longer get close to them in time for the finish line."   

Mathias Frank remains the best rider for IAM Cycling in the overall standings, in 9th place 29 seconds back. 

"It was actually a good day for me.  We had a lot of tailwind and made fast progress.  Thanks to the three-man breakaway, it was a quiet and controlled day for the sprinters' teams. 

"Nevertheless, the end was hectic and then came the crash in the sprint.  That was a shame for Heinrich, because he was ideally positioned before the riders crashed right in front of him.  But otherwise, I think we had a good race as a team and so I am quite satisfied."