Greipel Thanks His Team

Last updated : 06 July 2015 By Covsupport News Service

Andre Greipel has thanked his team for their part in helping him winning the second stage of the 102nd Tour De France in Neeltje Jans in Zelande.

"I'd like to thank the team for their performance today.

"This was about teamwork. I feel they were superb. I felt strong and I'm just really happy to have won," Greipel said. 

"Today was a tough day out. We followed a different strategy today, riding hard early on to drop some of my sprint rivals. It worked out well. It was really nervous with all the wind and rain. The team managed to keep me up in the front, and it was a key factor. I'm really happy about my teammates and really proud we won the first stage."

Kev Monks's photo.

Fabian Cancellera the new race leader is quoted as saying: "I was not expecting the yellow today, maybe in the next days, and the big chance on the cobblestone stage.

"Today, I thought it was more for the sprinters. I was coming to the Tour to win and get the yellow yesterday, and I didn’t win yesterday and not today, but I made a nice sprint at the end and I got third and the yellow and that is really a success."

White Jersey wearer Tom Dumoulin of Giant Alpecin said: "My day was good but not perfect. We went for the sprint opportunity for John [Degenkolb] today. He was caught up and not in the first group after the split. 

"I only enjoyed the first 20km today, with all the amazing crowds in the Netherlands. After that, the Tour started with all its chaos and stress. I fought for my position all day, which went quite well as the split took place behind me. That was not just luck. 

"I can leave the Netherlands with my head held high, as I performed well yesterday. Now I have the white jersey, which feels good and is nice, definitely more special than just wearing it. I hope I can go for yellow now, I will fight and will do my best." 

Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service and ASO