Ster Elektrotoer

Greipel Takes Stage Win in Ster-ElektroToer

Andre Greipel has stormed to his
eighth win of the season in the opening road stage of the Ster-ElektroToer
in Holland.  Greipel was the fastest on a 175-kilometre stage from
Eindhoven to Sittard, beating Danilo Napolitano of Italy and Tom Boonen of
Belgium in a bunch sprint.

"We kept the situation under control so well.  There were still three
Columbia-Highroad riders ahead of Andre in the final kilometre, waiting to
ease him through to the sprint," commented team sports director Tristan
Hoffman.  "In the run-in to the finish, all I could hear on the race radio
was 'Columbia, Columbia, Columbia', and then we won.  Yesterday in the
opening prologue of the race we were a bit disappointed because all our
guys did very well but they weren't quite up there with the top names.
Today was a really different story.  Andre got the perfect lead-out and we
made sure we got our sporting revenge."

"[Team-mate] Marcel Sieberg brought things up to speed in the last
kilometre, then Mark Renshaw made it even faster and finally Greg
Henderson gave me a perfect lead-out in the last 200 metres," added
Greipel.  "Every time I win, it's also a team win, and today was no
exception to the rule. I really appreciate what they're doing for me.  The
next two stages aren't so easy, more lke Amstel or Liege, but we've got
Vicente Reynes and Frankie Rabon for the overall and I'm sure they'll make
sure they're up there.  Then after that on Sunday I should have another
opportunity for a win.  And if I can, I'll go for the points jersey just
like I did in the Bayern Rundfahrt stage race as well."

In another great day of racing for Columbia-Highroad, Greipel's victory
came less than an hour before yet another stage win for Mark Cavendish -
in the Tour de Suisse. Columbia-Highroad men's team have now racked up 40
wins this season.

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