German sprinter André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) will return to the Tour Down Under in 2018 after a three-year absence, hoping the race where he twice won the overall and has a record 16 stage wins can provide a proper jump start to his season.
Greipel, 35, debuted at the race in 2008, the first year it appeared on the UCI’s then-Pro Tour, promptly winning four of six stages and claiming the overall. He added another stage win 2009, then took three stage wins and the overall again in 2010. With the addition of more climbs like the one in Willunga, Greipel would never again win the overall, but he added three more stage wins in each of 2012 and 2013, then two more the next year.
In 2015, 2016 and 2017, Greipel chose to start his season at the Mallorca Challenge, but he said this week he'll be back in Adelaide for the 20th running of the Tour Down Under in January
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“It’s a pleasure for me to go back, as it was always good to start a hopefully successful season,” Greipel said in an announcement published on the race website.
“It is a really established and professionally organised race with riders of high quality taking part, and I have seen the race develop over the years to a high standard WorldTour event - an example for race organisers globally,” Greipel said. “The first wins and points to earn for my team and it would be nice, and of course I’m looking forward to the fantastic atmosphere.”
With world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Australian Caleb Ewan (Orcia-Scott) already signaling they’ll compete in Australia in January, Greipel will have plenty of competition if he wants to add to his record 16 stage wins.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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