Andre Greipel proved that he is back in good condition when he defended his title in the Brussels Cycling Classic. The German hopes that the performance will allow him to get selected for the Worlds.

This afternoon André Greipel won the Brussels Cycling Classic for the second year in a row. Tony Gallopin brought the German champion in the right position for the sprint.

Six riders rode in front for a long time: Dernies, Ghyselinck, Koretzky, Parrinello, Rabottini and Riblon. 55 kilometers from the end the escapees were caught. Several attacks followed, also one of Lars Bak, but the race finished with a bunch sprint. Tony Gallopin led André Greipel to the front in the last hectometers and pulled the sprint for him. Greipel was faster than Elia Viviani and Arnaud Démare.

Tomorrow Greipel will start in the Grand Prix de Fourmies.

"The race was pretty relaxed and I felt fine,# he said. "At the end we made it hard with Lars Bak who attacked. The team performed well. The guys put me in the front with about twenty kilometers to go. With Marcel Sieberg and Tony Gallopin I had two riders to set me up for the sprint. We had talked how to handle it, because there was headwind from 1500 up to 700 meters to go. It would be best if we came from the back, to have shelter.

"It worked out really well. I was happy that Tony made such a good lead-out and I could finish it off. It's great to win this race for the second year in a row. This victory is good for the confidence.

"I didn't have to waste energy during the race it. In the end everything was together and I could count on the support of my entire team. Tony Gallopin was the last one to bring me to the finish line. At certain points I really had to give everything to keep his wheel but eventually I could launch the sprint at the right time and keep everyone behind me.

'Sunday I will do the GP Fourmies in France. I hope to be able to win because I would really like to have a selection for the world championships later this year. Whether the course me in Ponferrada suits me? I do not know, but it's still an honor to be able to defend a your country. My condition is again good. Of course I'm glad that I can win here for the second year in a row.

"Tomorrow's race is always a bit tricky, we'll see what happens. The French teams will certainly be active."