André Greipel was expecting to ride in the Tour de France this weekend, after 11 race wins so far. But the HTC Columbia rider made the best of it, storming to victory in stage one of the Tour of Austria. Greipel left Briton Ben Swift and Australian Graeme Brown behind in the bunch sprint.
Greipel won three stages last year and continued his winning ways in Austria's opening stage. After 158 kilometers between Dornbirn and Bludenz, Greipel raised the arms in victory. The other teams tried to make things more difficult for HTC Columbia, to no avail. "My team closed the gap to the leaders alone," Greipel said. "It was a great showing by my teammates."
Greipel already won the first stage last year, ahead of Brown. "Of course I am very happy that I could win again right at the first day of the Tour of Austria." Reaching three stage wins again might be more difficult this year. "I don't think [I can do it], the tour is just too difficult for that."
Many mountains are still ahead of the riders before the finish in Vienna next Sunday. Even the first stage had some hills and break of the day Josef Benetseder, who spent 130 of the 158km on the front, will be wearing the mountain's jersey in stage two.
"After the turbulences in the team over the last few weeks I just wanted to go full gas today and ride off my frustration." The team was temporarily stripped off its license by the UCI, but all is good now. "This went really well, tomorrow I will wear my first ever jersey at the Tour of Austria." Ben Swift (sprinter's jersey) and Clemens Fankhauser (best Austrian) are the other two jersey wearers.
Austrian Benetseder attacked right after the start and gradually build up his lead. At kilometer 60 he received help from Christian Pavitischitz (ARBÖ KTM Gebrüder Weiss) and Donato Cannone (Ceramica Flaminia). Their maximum gap over the peloton was over seven minutes.
After the first of three local was started, HTC Columbia raised the speed. The three leaders were caught after the last KOM, 20 kilometers from the line. The high pace in the finale ensured that no-one was able to break away, leaving the stage to the sprinters.
Stage two is already an uphill finish at the Kitzbüheler Horn, after 174 kilometers from Landeck.
Results stage 1
1. André Greipel (HTC Columbia)
2. Ben Swift (Sky)
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)