A no thank you to Milan Sanremo

André Greipel accepts that the 2014 Milan Sanremo course is too difficult for him. He has ridden the last three versions of the Italian race, and his best is a thirty-third place. Now, the organizers have replaced the Le Manie climb with the much later ascent of La Pompeiaga. The late addition has made the classic even more difficult for sprinters, and also Mark Cavendish has ruled the Italian race out.

German sprinter Greipel instead dreams of winning other races, and especially the Paris-Robaix is high on his wishlist.

"Because of the difficulty of Milan - Sanremo it's hard to aim for a result,” he accepts, ruling out that race. “But Ghent-Wevelgem is also a very beautiful race that has to lie within my possibilities. And winning Paris-Roubaix is normally an utopia, but the race does suit me,” Greipel states in an update to the Lotto Belisol website.

Greipel feels secure in his current team, and does not mind that more youngsters are stepping up.

“In the Tour it is always our first goal to get a first stage win. Only then you can think about more,” he said. “But I want to be competitive the whole season. The young sprinters are developing well and I'm becoming a year older, but I'm still very fast.”

He is confident in the skills and expertise of his sprint train, and feels that he has the full backing of his team.

“We have nine newcomers, but it doesn't feel that way. Some young riders have arrived in the team and there have come some new faces from other teams, but I got the feeling they fit in,” he confirmed.

“I have extended my contract, my train stayed and that is important for me. I'm happy here, otherwise I wouldn't have signed for a longer period.”

Greipel also knows that he is responsible for much of the team’s success, and focuses on honing his skills.

“I want to keep taking the responsibility to give the team victories, always trying to become better, working even more professional and to set new goals,” he finished.