Greipel to repeat last season’s victories?

André Greipel has won fourteen stages in Australia’s finest bike race, and his 2014 participation will be the seventh in a row. Last year he won the opening stage, and thus equaled Robbie McEwen’s 12 victories. With additional victories during the fourth and sixth stage Greipel put himself firmly on the stage hunting throne of the race.

“It has become a tradition to start my season in the Tour Down Under,” Greipel said. “This will be my seventh attendance in a row. I won the criterium in the run-up to the stage race three times and I took fourteen wins at the actual Tour Down Under. In 2008 and 2010 I won the GC as well, so I have good memories of it. The race has become a bit tougher each year.”

There is no doubt about Greipel being one of the top riders of the race, but will he be able to dominate the race, just like he did last year?

Lotto-Belisol directeur sportif Herman Frison certainly seems to think so.

"The Tour Down Under is very important to us," Frison stated. "It's the first race of the WorldTour and the faster you can win on that level, the better for the team and the riders. That takes off the pressure. That's why we want to win a stage as soon as possible.

"After that we will aim for a second one and it would be totally amazing if we could also win a third stage like was the case last year. The race has become tougher than the past years, in theory I see three opportunities for a bunch sprint. It's always nice to win the criterium in the run-up to the Tour Down Under, after all it's the first confrontation between the sprinters, but that race isn't a goal in itself."

Greipel will be supported by his usual train and lead-out men, and Jens Debusschere, Jürgen Roelandts, Adam Hansen, Marcel Sieberg, Olivier Kaisen, and neo-pro Stig Broeckx will give their utmost to bring the German rider to the finish line.

According to Frison Roelandts will also be given somewhat free reins, and cold gocus on the race GC as well.

"The GC isn't a goal for us, but it wouldn't be the first time that someone who doesn't specifically aim for it ends up high," Frison added.