Andre Greipel stormed to a powerful sprint victory on day one of the Bayern Rundfahrt, a win which also earned the Columbia-Highroad fastman the first leader’s jersey of Germany’s top stage race.

After badly injuring his shoulder in the Tour Down Under in Australia, then returning to racing in the Four Days of Dunkirk in France in early May, today’s win marked the German’s third win of the season at the end of a hilly 196.3-kilometre stage from Kelheim to Muhldorf.

“It was a tricky finish with a bit of a climb in the final kilometre, around 10 to 12 percent, but I came through fine.  Then in the last 600 metres, where it flattened out, [Columbia-Highroad teammates] Marcel Sieberg and Tony Martin gave me a great lead-out.  With 250 metres to go I could start my own sprint and I went for it.   I’m pleased because this is my first-ever participation in the Bayern Rundfahrt and it’s part of my comeback from being injured this Spring, and it’s all going really well.  I wanted to come back in top condition, winning from the moment I started racing again, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”

Greipel paid tribute to his teammates, saying, “It was a real group effort that helped me win today.  We saved a lot of energy by letting the other teams go after the break of the day, and then we went all out to get me in position for the bunch sprint.”  The 26-year-old is not too optimistic about holding onto the leader’s  jersey on Thursday’s stage, which he says “is probably too hilly for me.  But we’ve got a lot of good all-rounders and climbers here in the team, and I’m sure that they’ll be able to be in the thick of the action on the big climbs.”