Haussler in green

German-Aussie Heinrich Haussler has won the green jersey after sprinting to the runner-up position in stage two of the Tour of California, sandwiched between sprinters Tom Boonen and Mario Cipollini. After getting third in stage one, he got to step onto the podium in California's capital of Sacramento once again. Not only to be awarded along side Boonen, but also to receive the green jersey for the best sprinter in the race. "I am very happy. I was actually very far behind in the last corner, but fortunately there was still some way to go to the finish."

His directeur sportif, former racer Michael Rich, was equally happy. "That guy is a lot of fun. He got a lot of morale and confidence through his third place. You could see that today. Maybe he is taking another step forward here [in California]." Rich did not forget to mention Haussler's team-mates, Austrians Bernhard Kohl and Peter Wrolich, who helped their team-mate in the finale. "That was a superb job," said Rich.

Haussler was born in Australia, but moved to Germany in 1997 and is now a dual citizen. He won a stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré against Tom Boonen last year.