IAM Cycling was at the front at the finish line in Paris-Bourges. Heinrich Haussler finished fourth. On the boulevard de la République, the Australian and his fellow IAM Cycling team-mates were not quite able to nab that podium position.

The centenary edition of the race was dominated by a charging John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano). In spite of their strength, Haussler, Hinault, Goddaert, Bandiera and Saramotins were unable to overhaul the firepower of teams such as FDJ, Argos-Shimano and Europcar in the finale. 

Under sunny, though windy and cool (11°) conditions in the Loiret and Cher regions, thempeloton gave the impression that they may be thinking of their well-deserved vacations a few days early.

Eddy Seigneur, directeur sportif for IAM Cycling, is not concerned about his group which will be racing their last big race this season on Sunday at the Paris-Tours. 

“It will be a different race. Today, the guys followed their instructions. We protected Haussler and Hinault so they could be fit for the rumble at the finish. They were in a position to fight for the win, but it didn’t end exactly as we would have wished. We need to be even more unified in the last kilometer.”

Heinrich Haussler thinks he is in a good form.

“Everything went well during the day. I did not feel any ill-effects from my crash at the Eurométropole. But in the end, we lacked a little bit of consistency. After the flamme rouge, I found myself alone in the sprint. Certainly the legs look good. And I have not lost hope to win before the end of the season,” he said.