André Greipel says he would swap 100 of his victories for World Championships success in Qatar next year.
The Lotto-Soudal rider finished third in the 2011 Worlds in Copenhagen, the last championships to end in a bunch sprint.
But with the 2016 edition taking place on a flat, likely wind-affected course around the city of Doha, the 33-year-old has his sights set on the rainbow jersey.
“I want to be world champion,” he said. “I would give 100 victories to be world champion – but I’d keep the Tour de France wins!”
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Greipel showed his echelon-riding capabilities in this year’s Tour, winning stage two at Neeltje Jans after winds coming off the North Sea wreaked havoc on the peloton.
And his research suggests next October’s Worlds are likely to be decided by similar weather conditions.
“[For the] last two years, I’ve checked the weather on October 16: always windy. This year [the winds were] 60km/h and 41°C, so it will be a tough World Championships.
“It’s nice to ride in echelons. It’s part of racing. The strongest and smartest riders get in the echelons.”
Watch: Tour de France 2015, stage two highlights
One potential obstacle for Greipel is that fellow sprinters Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb are also potential leaders for the German team.
He added: “You need a strong team. It’s not my decision. I’m always consistent, you can always count on me.
“I’ve proved that I can be there after distances like 260 kilometres.”
