Tour de France: Greipel claims maiden stage victory

Salman Zahoor July 13, 2011 0

Tour de France: Greipel claims maiden stage victory

CARMAUX, France: Andre Greipel of Germany recorded his first-ever stage victory at the Tour de France cycle race here Tuesday when he outpaced teammate Mark Cavendish to win the 158-km long 10^th stage.

Andre Greipel. Courtesy: Reuters

Greipel, who is taking part in the Tour de France cycle race for the first time in his career, found luck in his way after he battled to beat Cavendish in the trek from Aurillac. It was sort of a personal victory for Greipel who took revenge from Cavendish for having sour relationships last summer which led to his exclusion from the HTC Highroad team.

Greipel was third in the stages that Cavendish won earlier in the Tour at Cap Frehel and Chateauroux but this time he overtook the teammate on the last curve before snatching the victory.

Andre Greipel. Courtesy: AP PHOTO

Jose Joaquin Rojas of Spain once again finished on the podium this time at the third place while the Yellow Jersey remained with Thomas Voeckler of France. Spanish three-time champion Alberto Contador also managed to finish in the pack.

An ecstatic Greipel told reporters after winning the stage, “I was dreaming of winning a stage on the Tour and if it meant beating him, so be it. I have a lot of respect for him, he is the best sprinter in the history of the Tour with 17 wins and I had the chance to beat him. Of course he was not always friendly with his comments to me. I just try to show on the bike what I’m able to do”.

Andre Greipel. Courtesy: AP PHOTO

However, Cavendish refrained from criticizing Greipel as he told media, “I went early but it was not too early on this type of finish. I didn’t have enough kick I kind of rolled around and Greipel just came faster and beat me. I’m happy for him, he came to the Tour and won a stage.”

Juan Antonio Flecha of Spain and Johnny Hoogerland of Netherlands, who were injured in the previous stage, started the Aurillac stage with pains but the crowd received them warmly which certainly eased off the pain a little bit.

Hoogerland said, “I’m still in pain and I was a little bit afraid at the start but I received a lot of support on and off the road. Some guys even pushed me in the climbs. I was glad to be in the peloton today”.