André Greipel: 'It's a childhood dream to wear the Giro d'Italia maglia rosa'
German crowns seventh Giro d'Italia stage win with his first pink jersey
André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) says a dream has been fulfilled by wearing the Giro d'Italia's pink jersey of overall classification leader. The German earned the prestigious top today after winning the sprint in Tortolì, along Sardinia's eastern coast.
By placing third in stage one and first in stage two, Greipel earned enough bonus seconds to take the lead from Austrian Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe).
“It's a childhood dream to wear a jersey like this," the German explained.
"We tried last year but it didn't work out, so this year was another chance. We tired yesterday but it didn't work and it paid off today. I'm happy to have reached our goal, and we'll enjoy tomorrow's stage with the jersey."
Greipel heads into stage three, another sprinters' stage, as the Giro's overall leader with four seconds on Pöstlberger and eight on Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott). If he retains it during that stage then he'll keep it through the transfer/rest day on Monday, before almost certainly losing it on Tuesday, when the race finishes on Mount Etna.
He now counts 11 Tour de France stage wins and seven in the Giro. Last year, he won three times before pulling out in the mountainous third week with the points jersey still on his back.
"That was not an easy decision last year, to be honest, but this year is another chance for stage wins. We did so second day and got the pink jersey. I'm really proud to have made this possible."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Many followers did not expect the sprinters to keep up with the front-runners over the final 1,000-metre pass at 20km left to race in stage two. But Greipel was aided by the slower pace in the group after an early escape went free.
"I didn't believe in a sprint today. We expected more attacks in the beginning and I think the head wind played in our favour," he said. "Nobody tried anything on the last climb, which could have exploded the race for sure."
Greipel's success will be warmly welcomed by his Belgian WorldTour team, Lotto-Soudal, which suffered through the Classics without a win.
"When you ride Classics as a Belgian team, you always try to be successful, but others were prepared too. We fought for it, and for sure the results didn't come as expected. That's why it was really important to be successful here in the Giro.
"I think we've come to a turning point for our team."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Zwift introduces Racing Score to make platform 'more competitive, fairer and accessible'
Zwift says new ranking system will reflect both fitness level and racing skill
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Katie Archibald set for racing return at World Championships after freak leg fracture
Scot 'thriving on the bike' having missed Olympics to recover
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘Current WorldTour system is killing all the smaller teams,’ says Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
South African ex-Lotto Soudal rider fears more teams could find themselves in B & B Hotels-KTM situation if the system doesn’t change
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Caleb Ewan ‘not going anywhere’ after team's relegation, says Lotto-Soudal
Spokesperson for Belgian team says that Ewan has expressed desire to stay and lead the team in 2023
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It's not been a great Tour for the sprinters’ - Caleb Ewan rues bad luck at the Tour de France after heavy crash on stage 13
Lotto Soudal sprinter involved in nasty crash with a teammate midway through stage into Saint-Étienne
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m still having to pinch myself a little bit, what a ride!' : Reinardt Janse van Rensburg’s journey to a sixth Tour de France
The 33 year old South African rider feared his career was over before Lotto Soudal came calling.
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
André Greipel: WorldTour relegation system 'totally bulls**t'
The former pro cyclist talks UCI points, watching cycling as a fan, and the lack of sprint opportunities at the Tour de France
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotto Soudal pins Tour de France hopes on 'one of the fastest riders of the peloton', Caleb Ewan
Caleb Ewan, Philippe Gilbert, Andreas Kron and Tim Wellens all make the team's Tour de France lineup
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Racing every race like it's the last of the season: how smaller teams are overperforming this year
Lotto-Soudal and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux have won 11 races between them in 2022 after just 21 in all of last year, so what's going on?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Meet Florian Vermeersch, the history student and local councillor who finished second at Paris-Roubaix
The Lotto Soudal rider on living up to new expectations, the new approach of his team, and how time trialling helps in the Classics
By Adam Becket Published