Unsung German rookie Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) delivered a surprise Friday to snatch the 142.9km 19th stage while Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) enjoyed a relatively easy day in the saddle with only two days left in the 60th Vuelta a España.

Haussler was all smiles as he streaked through ahead of Swiss national champion Martin Elmiger (Phonak) and David Latasa (Comunidad Valenciana) to win his first professional race.

The rolling race through the hills north of Madrid proved a frenetic day of racing for riders desperate to win a stage as the Vuelta rolls into its final weekend of action with Heras easily retaining his 4:30 lead.

Just another day at the office for Heras and Liberty

Photo: Graham Watson

With Haussler taking the honors in a stage dominated by attacks from non-threatening riders, the overall favorites enjoyed a cease-fire ahead of Saturday’s time trial. Heras finished safely in the main bunch, which finished more than 15 minutes behind the winner.

"I had no problems, it was a routine stage," said Heras, who has held the lead since Sunday’s spectacular stage. "One day closer to Madrid."

Heras’s last serious challenge comes in Saturday’s penultimate stage, a flat time trial between Guadalajara and Alcalá de Henares. Menchov will be going for his third time-trial win in this Vuelta, but Heras’s lead should be enough to give him the record fourth Vuelta victory.

"I suspect it will be more a battle between the riders looking for second and third overall than for me, although I will have to stay 100 percent focused," he said.

Crazy day in the saddle

The course featured a Cat. 2 and a Cat. 3 in the opening 62km, which served as a nice trampoline for a breakaway. The sprinters and the favorites were on siesta, saving their legs for the weekend’s action.

Haussler leads the break

Photo: Graham Watson

Haussler was part of a group of 23 that took advantage of the cease-fire and it didn’t take long before the attacks began. Leon Van Bon (Rabobank) surged out of the bunch at the first kilometer and soon everyone was thrashing about, trying to sneak into the day’s move.

"The hard part was getting into the break," Haussler said. "Everyone knew this was the last chance to win a stage in the Vuelta, so everyone was attacking like crazy."

At 20km, four riders pulled away from the bigger chase group. Aldolf García Quesada (Comunidad Valenciana), Linus Gerdemann (CSC), Pablos Lastras (Illes Balears) and Constantino Zaballa (Saunier Duval) held a 45-second gap going into the day’s early climbs.

There were a series of attacks and counter-attacks among the escapees, with riders moving forward and dropping back as the main bunch were more than happy to scrap it out.

García Quesada tried to slip away with 45km to go, but he was eventually reeled in by Lastras and Gerdemann. Haussler worked into a seven-man chase group that eventually checked this effort.

More accelerations fractured the front group again, leaving just Haussler, Elmiger, Latasa and Juan Fuentes (Lampre) clear with about 14km to go.

But it was Haussler and Elminger fighting it out at the end

Photo: Graham Watson

The chasers lost their ambition and the leading quartet roared into Alcobendas to contest the sprint. Zaballa gave it a late run, but couldn’t bridge out before he ran out of asphalt.

Fuentes knew he had no chance to win a sprint and tried to sneak away with 1km to go, but he was reeled in 500 meters to go. Elmiger and Latasa thought it would be a two-man fight, but the 21-year-old Haussler caught them out.

Haussler edged Elmiger by a wheel with the angry Latasa coming through third.

"This is great for the team because we came here without any of our big stars," said Haussler, who moved up to 54th overall to lead the team in the GC. "This is my first big win, so this is a great way to finish off this Vuelta."

Haussler was born in Australia but moved to Germany at the age of 14 and holds a German passport.

Stage Results
1. Heinrich Haussler (G), Gerolsteiner, 3:20:26
2. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Phonak, same time
3. David Latasa (Sp), Comunidad Valenciana
4. Juan Fuentes (Sp), Lampre, 0:10
5. Constantino Zaballa (Sp), Saunier Duval, 0:30
6. Pablo Lastras (Sp), Illes Balears, 0:43
7. Jose Miguel Elias (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 0:45
8. Linus Gerdemann (G), CSC, 0:50
9. Roberto Laiseka (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 0:54
10. Fabio Baldato (I), Fassa Bortolo, 2:16
Full Results

Overall
1. Roberto Heras (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 78:06:39
2. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, 4:30
3. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, 4:50
4. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears, 5:48
5. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Sp), Comunidad Valenciana, 6:22
6. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), T-Mobile, 11:13
7. Ruben Plaza (Sp), Comunidad Valenciana, 11:36
8. Juan Miguel Mercado (Sp), Quickstep, 15:28
9. Tom Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, 15:50
10. Mauricio Ardila (Col), Davitamon-Lotto, 15:53
Full Results