2008 Tour Down Under Winner - Andre Greipel

Andre Greipel, a.k.a 'The Incredible Hulk', has once again proved too powerful in the final stage at the Tour Down Under.

This week the Team High Road rider has taken all before him - a record breaking 4 wins, the sprinters' classification, a cow and most importantly, the overall win.

The stage was always destined to be a fight between the two leading riders in the overall classification. Greipel led second placed Allan Davis (UniSA-Australia) by seven seconds, and with bonus time available in the two intermediate sprints and on the finish line, all interest centred on these two riders.

With the stage consisting of 16 x 5.5 km laps on the streets of Adelaide, the first intermediate sprint took place at the end of lap 5. UniSA-Australia had an ally in the form of Team CSC and both ensured the speed was high enough to stop any attacks that would deprive Davis of vaulable bonus seconds.

The first sprint was taken out by Davis, but not without some controversey. Greipel felt aggrieved after he believed he was blocked by one of Davis' lead out men. In the meantime, fellow Team High Roader, Greg Henderson collected second place, with Suart O'Grady (Team CSC) beating Greipel in a photo for third.
This reduced Greipel's lead to just 4 seconds and it was now game on.

Team High Road then decided to flex their collective muscle for the second sprint, and the German team headed straight to the front of the peloton. It was sweet revenge for Greipel who outsprinted Davis.

The margin was now back to 5 seconds, and for the Australian to win the Tour Down Under he needed to place first or second and have Greipel finish at least two places back.

Again Team CSC went to the aid of the UniSA-Australian team; the only non-ProTour squad competing at the race.

With the bell signialling the last lap of the race, Greipel's team once again sprung into action. Francaise Des Jeux's ever attacking Philippe Gilbert had one last dig in the closing kilometre, but Team High Road were too alert.

Davis started his sprint 200 metres from the line, and in a stiff breeze never stood a chance. Greipel put the icing on his cake by emphatically rolling over all riders to take a comfortable sprint. Gerolsteiner's Jan Robert Forster came second, just ahead of a fast finishing Graeme Brown of Rabobank.

Straight aftrwards, the 25 year old paid tribute to his High Road Team. "I'm really proud of it (the win) and I had the best support in this race. My team-mates were talking to me all the time and I had the best support throughout."

Greipel himself is still coming to terms with his brilliant week. When asked how he feels after such a dominate performance, he replied "yeah, I feel like I'm in heaven - I can't find any words."

Davis too will look fondly back over his past week. The Australian is still without a ProTour ride for 2008, although it is believed he is in negogiations with a Europe based squad. The Queenslander's performance certainly wont do him any harm.

Although disappointed in 'only' coming second, he also conceeded he rode "every metre as hard I could" for the week.

Greipel's win automatically gives the powerhouse sprinter the lead in the UCI ProTour with 62 points. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil of Caisse d'Epargne in second with 38 points after winning the Under 25 Classification.

Stage Results:
1. Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 1.51.13
2. Jan Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
3. Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
4. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne
5. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence-Lotto
6. Aurelien Clerc (Sui) Bouygues Telecom
7. Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre
8. Allan Davis (Aus) UniSA-Australia
9. Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
10. Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step

Final General Classification:
1. Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 18.46.18
2. Allan Davis (Aus) UniSA-Australia @ 0.15
3. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne @ 0.33
4. Mickael Delage (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux @ 0.37
5. Mickael Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis
6. Jose Alberto Benitez Roman (Esp) @ 0.39
7. Kjell Carolstrom (Fin) Liquigas
8. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Esp) @ 0.41
9. Richie Porte (Aus) UniSA-Australia
10. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC @ 0.42

Final Points Classification:
1. Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 38 pts
2. Allan Davis (Aus) UniSA-Australia 34 pts
3. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole 24 pts

Final Mountains Classification:
1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux 38 pts
2. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis 22 pts
3. Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 18 pts

Final Under 25 Classification:
1. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne 18.46.51
2. Mickael Delage (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux @ 0.04
3. Richie Porte (Aus) UniSA-Australia @ 0.08

© Michael Holden