André Greipel wins Tour of Poland’s stage 2
HTC-Columbia's big German powered across the finish line in Dabrowa Gornicza well clear of Australian Allan Davis (Astana) and the remainder of the pack in the bunch sprint that decided the 240km stage.
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André Greipel (HTC-Columbia) racked up his fifteenth win of the 2010 season in Monday’s stage 2 of the Tour of Poland. The big German powered across the finish line in Dabrowa Gornicza well clear of Australian Allan Davis (Astana) and the remainder of the pack in the bunch sprint that decided the 240km stage.
A stage winner in the same race last year, Greipel’s victory was his 15th of the season and his first since he took two stages of the Tour of Austria in July.
“The sprint was a bit dangerous, slightly downhill, but I found a gap,” Greipel said afterwards. “Then I was quite happy to find another gap to start my sprint. Everyone was pretty tired after such a long stage, and the hot and humid weather wasn’t pleasant. But I felt better and better as we got close to the finish.”
Greipel says that he will continue on the hunt for stage wins, although the hillier part of the seven-day race is yet to come.
“I got a stage victory here last year and the finishes are pretty similar – wide roads and downhills – so I can be optimistic,” Greipel said. “Whatever happens, this was a good win, and it’s a great start to the second part of the season.”
Davis got a nice consolation by taking over the leader’s jersey from overnight leader Jacopo Guarnieri (Liquigas), who slipped into second.
The Polish tour continues Tuesday with the 122km third stage from Sosnowiec to Katowice.