With all the focus on Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and new national time trial champion Richie Porte, Haussler had the last say.

He outsprinted Australia’s rising star Caleb Ewan to capture his first national title.

Ewan looked the most likely to claim the most coveted green and gold jersey in Australian cycling when it became obvious that the last 10.2km lap of the 183.6km Mars Cycling Australian Road National Championships event would come down to a sprint, but it was the

more experienced Haussler who won the tactical battle.

As the last man standing for Orica GreenEDGE, Ewan made two bold attacks in the closing kilometres in an attempt to add to his 2014 under-23 men’s road race championship.

He jumped away at the top of the climb and then was the first to put his foot down in sight of the line.

With neither move coming off, it was Haussler who was best able to place himself for the final dash as the race went down to six contenders.

Australian domestic rider Neil van der Ploeg took third place.

Neither Evans nor Porte were ever able get themselves into a winning position as breakaways dictated terms.

They finished in the main bunch – 52 seconds behind Haussler.

Haussler grew up in country New South Wales before moving to his father’s homeland Germany at 14 years of age to pursue his dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

He won a stage of the 2009 Tour de France, but it was not until the following year when he took up an Australian racing licence that he came under notice in Australia.

The 30-year-old described the title as meaning everything to him.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s the best day of my life.”

Haussler said he had arrived in Australia earlier than usual, in December, to ensure he was fully acclimatised for the nationals, Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Road Race.

“It’s all fallen into place,” he said.

Haussler, who rides for newly-promoted World Tour team IAM, said his immediate aim was to win a stage of the Tour Down Under in South Australia and then target the classics in Europe.

He said the Giro d’Italia was the only grand tour he was likely to ride this year – ruling out the Tour de France because of his focus on classics.

Ballarat’s Pat Shaw and Rhys Gillett also featured prominently in breakaways from the outset.

Gillett was in a two-man break in the opening lap.

He was then part of the biggest lead group of the day, with Shaw – playing a key role – leading by as much as one minute, 58 seconds at the halfway mark.

Damien Howson was the first to set the race alight, going away from the breakaway on the 11th lap.

Will Clarke then did the same and then it was Pat Lane’s turn until the 16th lap.

Lane was caught by a group of 15, which ultimately became six in the battle to the line.

Haussler almost missed the boat after being dropped on the last climb, but his experience kept him in contention.

He said while he momentarily lost touch with the leaders, he had

no choice but to push ahead.

“I knew I just had to pace myself over the climb. I knew it’d be cat and mouse with six riders from six teams,” he said.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Cadel Evans finished 11th, 52 seconds behind Haussler, in what was his final quest for a national champions' jersey. Evans finished behind Steele Von Hoff and Simon Clarke. Fellow favourite Richie Porte finished 22nd in the same time as Evans.

TOP 10 FINISH

Heinrich HAUSSLER (NSW) 4h47:24

Caleb EWAN (NSW) same time

Neil VAN DER PLOEG (VIC) st

Campbell FLAKEMORE (TAS) st

Samuel SPOKES (NSW) st

Jack BOBRIDGE (SA) st

Angus MORTON (NSW) +9secs

Adam HANSEN (QLD) +48secs

Steele VON HOFF (VIC) +52secs

Simon CLARKE (VIC) st

King of the Mountain: William Clarke (Tasmania)

Sprint champion: William Clarke (Tasmania)

Read all about the Womens Road Nationals 'road race here 

Read all about the Under 23 mens road race here

HOW SUNDAY UNFOLDED...

*Hepburn versus Lapthorne trying to get the jump!

*Peloton trails 1:30 into final lap

*Really strong break with Bobridge, Hepburn, Lapthorne, Ewan in the mix. Looking grim for Evans and Porte

*Cadel bursting up Mt Buninyong Road, second last lap...

*Down the hill on the penultimate lap and Michael Hepburn (ORICA-GreenEDGE) is charging the nine leaders ahead of the peloton.

Fan Jason Murphy says the atmosphere atop Mount Buninyong feels just like he's imagine in Le Tour de France

*Michael Hepburn makes the attack on the climb. Caleb Ewan responds!

Room with a view! From left, flatmates Sarah Finnigan, Shaun Coffey and Morgan Potter enjoy a beer as the peloton zooms past. Ms potter said they moved in in July, knowing the flat would be in a prime spot for the race.

*Two laps to go and your leaders are: Pat Lane, Will Clarke, Robbie Hucker, Sam Spokes, Darren Lapthorne, Cameron Wurf, Caleb Ewan, Heinrich Haussler, Michael Hepburn, Angus Morton, Peter Milostic, Campbell Flakemore, Oliver Kent-Spark, Mitch Docker, Jack Bobridge, Neil Van Der Ploeg, Jack Anderson

*Peloton now 1:05 behind, top of the climb, with 25 kilometres to go...

*Pat Lane is swallowed by the 16-strong chasing group at the start of the 16th climb. Caleb Ewan hanging in there. Peloton is one minute, 43 seconds behind. In the peloton is Luke Durbridge, Rohan Dennis, A dam Phelan, Nathan Earle, Richie Porte and Cadel Evans. Three laps to go!

Lane caught by chasing group of 16 at the start of 16th climb. Caleb Ewan hanging in there

*Victorian Pat Lane (African Wildlife Safari) now has the lead on his own for the 15th lap. Will Clarke has been reeled in by the chasing group. 

*Pat Shaw is driving the peloton but two minutes down. Peloton still featuring Richie Porte and Cadel Evans. There's four laps (40km) to go it's anyone's guess to who might win. Will Clarke and Pat Lane are in the lead, 36 seconds up on next group that inclues Caleb Ewan, Darren Lapthorne, Campbell Flakemore and Luke Bobridge

*Caleb Ewan is fast becoming the fans' hot tip on social media for his bold attacking style. Cadel Evans remains the sentimental favourite.

*Pat Lane about to join Clarke up the 14th climb, Caleb Ewan trying to bridge the gap

Will Clarke now in time trial mode for lap 14. He's extending his lead, the peloton is chasing hard...this isn't going to last

All quiet in the pit. SRAM are providing neutral race support for riders throughout the weekend and mechanic James Maebus said the men's race thus far had been pretty quiet with the weather staying fair.

He said there would have been "carnage" had the heavens opened as it did yesterday where the men's under 23 race was neutralised after an early crash.

Most riders in the men's race were professional and generally had no need for support, he said. However, a third of the 157 riders were 'privateers' and needed pre and during race support.

*Start of lap 12 and Will Clarke has 1.44-second on the chasing group - Pat Lane, Joshua Taylor and Adam Phelan. Ballarat's Rhys Gillett is a further five seconds behind in the peloton.

There's always one Teletubbie out about the Buninyong course. Looks like a Lala fan...

*William Clarke takes the points in the 11th King of the Mountain. Cameron Peterson (NSW) leads KOM classification with 11 points, Ballarat hometown hero Pat Shaw is ranked third with eight points.

*Seven laps left and it's strong Drapac rider Will Clarke with the lead. Clarke has a gap of 44 seconds to the group of 13 riders.

Half way through the 180km course and a fascinating race is panning out in Buninyong. Budget Forklifts with three in the break, Drapac with four... Who's going to do the work to bridge the gap?

C.Peterson is driving the leaders across the start line at the halfway point of the race. Their advantage to the peloton is 1'59"

The King of the Mountain section of the circuit is awash with colour and sound, with hundreds of people enjoying the show put on by Cycling Australia and various bike companies.

As the breakaway and then peloton roll through, te crowd splits and urges the riders up with shouts and

Further down the hill is Neil Maurer, a Lal Lal man who rode with Olympic and commonwealth games cyclists as a younger racer.

"It'd be good to see Cadel win, coming to the end," he said.

A frequent road nationals attendee, Mr Maurer said he also watched his son race but couldn't get far himself anymore.

"I've got an arterial disease that means I'm stuck watching," he said.

"I followed my father into it, too...but it's a hard sport. Dangerous, too."

Karen and Alan Holmes offer some encouragement to the riders in the midst of a punishing climb.

Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute is selling cow bells at this year's event. Volunteer John Ives said out of 3000, just 500 remained. "It's fantastic, it gives the race more of a European feel," he said.

ON the course: Cadel Evans is sitting right on the wheel of Rohan Dennis near front of peloton after 8 laps. Break has a gap of 1:16.

Pull up a pew! Bruce Vickers and his wife Colleen win the notional prize of comfiest seat in the house - stuffing a beanbag in the back of their ute. The pair, who attend the race every year, are just metres from the road at the start of the circuit's first incline.

Snags are flying out of the CFA Buninyong tent near the finish line. Treasurer Paulene Sunderland said the brigade was trying to raise funds for equipment. Last year the brigade raised close to $7000 and are looking for something similar this year.

The pressure is on as the peloton chases down the four man breakaway. Who is up front;

and who is chasing. Riders aim to close the gap on the peloton at the foot of the circuit's first climb

Ballarat's Pat Shaw has grabbed the challenge and has teamed up in an early breakaway with about 45 seconds advantage over the peloton.

Undeterred by the chilly wind, here are two riders who eat up cold conditions;

Race kicked off by a trooper from Sovereign Hill. Relaxed peloton and crowd  startled by the bang. 

What a line up; past champions and world class riders on the start line in Buninyong. 

The big names are in town;

Wherever you are, Cycling Australia has made sure you won't miss a thing; comprehensive commentary and big screens on the course, up-to date tweets and the new partnership with Channel Nine for live broadcast from 2pm.   

Check out Metarace for their live tracking maps here and of course at The Courier for all the fun and excitement.

The weather may be gloomy but it certainly hasn't stopped the fans who have flocked to Buninyong for its big day. 

The wind is a pretty nasty south easterly blowing up the midland highway from Geelong with gusts up to 56km/h will not be welcome on the long drag out of the village.

 Pat Shaw talks about it