Greipel takes win number 20 in Paris-Bourges

Winner André Greipel

Winner André Greipel (Image credit: Patrik Pátek)

German André Greipel claimed his 20th win of the season in Paris-Bourges, powering to the line ahead of Saxo Bank's JJ Haedo and Alexandre Usov (Cofidis). The Columbia-HTC rider continued his winning ways that propelled him to four stage wins and the overall points classification in last month's Tour of Spain.

"I never expected to get so many wins this season, particularly after a tough beginning to the year," said Greipel. "But today I won again, even though we had to work really hard to get it and there were attacks all the way through.

"My teammates got me in the right position, and I did a very long sprint, from about 300 metres to go. Haedo almost got past me, but when he tried to overtake me he had to move out, and the wind made it harder for him. So I eventually beat him by about half a bike length."

An early break of 20 riders stayed away for approximately 120 kilometres, gaining a maximum advantage of 2:30 over the peloton, but the escape was absorbed with 11 kilometres remaining. Greipel said he hadn't really expected a bunch sprint to materialise. "Fortunately we had two guys in there, [Morris] Possoni and [Vicente] Reynes, the break's lead stayed at around two and a half minutes, and so we didn't have to work so much. Then the best moment for me came when Bernie [Eisel] said to me, 'Hey, relax, we'll get the break back and we'll get you to that sprint, too'."

Following Bernhard Eisel's victory in Paris-Bourges in 2008, Greipel's triumph is Columbia-HTC's second straight victory in the French classic.

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Full Results
1André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road4:11:55
2Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo BankRow 1 - Cell 2
3Alexandre Usov (Blr) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 2 - Cell 2
4Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo Test TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 4 - Cell 2
6Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 5 - Cell 2
7Andreas Dietziker (Swi) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 6 - Cell 2
8Martin Reimer (Ger) Cervelo Test TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Romain Feillu (Fra) AgritubelRow 9 - Cell 2
11Laurent Mangel (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 10 - Cell 2
12Fabien Bacquet (Fra) Auber 93Row 11 - Cell 2
13Mathieu Drujon (Fra) Caisse d'EpargneRow 12 - Cell 2
14Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jan Bakelandts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 14 - Cell 2
16Sven Renders (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 15 - Cell 2
17Daniel Musiol (Ger) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 16 - Cell 2
18Johan Mombaerts (Fra) Auber 93Row 17 - Cell 2
19Tony Gallopin (Fra) Auber 93Row 18 - Cell 2
20Nadir Haddou (Fra) Auber 93Row 19 - Cell 2
21Gerben Löwik (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 21 - Cell 2
23Geert Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 22 - Cell 2
24Jean-Luc Delpech (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 23 - Cell 2
25Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Cycling Club BourgasRow 24 - Cell 2
26Rob Ruygh (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 26 - Cell 2
28Sébastien Harbonnier (Fra) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 27 - Cell 2
29Lilian Jegou (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 28 - Cell 2
30Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 29 - Cell 2
31Renaud Dion (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 30 - Cell 2
32Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2R La MondialeRow 31 - Cell 2
33Jérémie Galland (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 32 - Cell 2
34Florian Vachon (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 33 - Cell 2
35Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team Saxo BankRow 34 - Cell 2
36Brice Feillu (Fra) AgritubelRow 35 - Cell 2
37Mickael Larpe (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 36 - Cell 2
38Mathieu Claude (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 37 - Cell 2
39Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 38 - Cell 2
40Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'EpargneRow 39 - Cell 2
41Nicolas Rousseau (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 40 - Cell 2
42Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43William Bonnet (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 42 - Cell 2
44Frank Dressler (Ger) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 43 - Cell 2
45Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Cervelo Test TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 45 - Cell 2
47Julien Mazet (Fra) Auber 93Row 46 - Cell 2
48Jens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Rony Martias (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 49 - Cell 2
51Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 50 - Cell 2
52Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team Saxo BankRow 51 - Cell 2
53Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 52 - Cell 2
54Florian Guillou (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 53 - Cell 2
55Julien Simon (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 54 - Cell 2
56Janek Tombak (Est) Cycling Club BourgasRow 55 - Cell 2
57Yohan Cauquil (Fra) Cycling Club BourgasRow 56 - Cell 2
58Yohan Offredo (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 57 - Cell 2
59Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) AgritubelRow 58 - Cell 2
60Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 59 - Cell 2
61Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - High RoadRow 60 - Cell 2
62Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 61 - Cell 2
63Robert Retschke (Ger) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 62 - Cell 2
64Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-ShimanoRow 64 - Cell 2
66Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 65 - Cell 2
67Gert Dockx (Bel) Team Columbia - High RoadRow 66 - Cell 2
68Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 67 - Cell 2
69Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo Test TeamRow 68 - Cell 2
70Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 69 - Cell 2
71Thierry Hupond (Fra) Skil-ShimanoRow 70 - Cell 2
72Loyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 71 - Cell 2
73Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 72 - Cell 2
74Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 73 - Cell 2
75Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 74 - Cell 2
76Sébastien Duret (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 75 - Cell 2
77Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 76 - Cell 2
78Nikolas Maes (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 77 - Cell 2
79Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'EpargneRow 78 - Cell 2
80Yann Pivois (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 79 - Cell 2
81Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 80 - Cell 2
82Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil-ShimanoRow 81 - Cell 2
83Mikael Chérel (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 82 - Cell 2
84Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 83 - Cell 2
85Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
86Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 85 - Cell 2
87Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Imanol Erviti (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 87 - Cell 2
89José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 88 - Cell 2
90Maxime Mederel (Fra) Auber 93Row 89 - Cell 2
91Morris Possoni (Ita) Team Columbia - High RoadRow 90 - Cell 2
92Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux0:03:10
93Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:03:30
94Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des JeuxRow 93 - Cell 2
95Fredrik Johansson (Swe) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 94 - Cell 2
96Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team Columbia - High RoadRow 95 - Cell 2
97Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) AgritubelRow 96 - Cell 2
98Maryan Hary (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 97 - Cell 2
99Gael Malacarne (Fra) Bretagne - Schuller0:04:04
100Jonathan Thire (Fra) Auber 93Row 99 - Cell 2
101Vicente Reynes (Spa) Team Columbia - High RoadRow 100 - Cell 2
102Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 101 - Cell 2
103Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 102 - Cell 2
104Cédric Pineau (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:04:25
105Freddy Bichot (Fra) AgritubelRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jean-Eudes Demaret (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFEdvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - High RoadRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFOlivier Bonnaire (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFDamien Gaudin (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Mørkøv (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Ravard (Fra) AgritubelRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFMarcel Wyss (Swi) Cervelo Test TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFDominique Rollin (Can) Cervelo Test TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFKoen Barbe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFDenis Flahaut (Fra) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFBaptiste Planckaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFTom Van Den Haute (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFMathieu Drouilly (Fra) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFMartial Ricci Poggi (Fra) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFKristof Goddaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFSilvère Ackermann (Swi) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFJosef Benetseder (Aut) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFHarald Morscher (Aut) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Gufler (Ita) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFHakan Nilsson (Swe) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFMorten Knudsen (Den) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFJempy Drucker (Lux) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFHannes Blank (Ger) Continental Team DifferdangeRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFYukihiro Doi (Jpn) Skil-ShimanoRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Deroo (Fra) Skil-ShimanoRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFSteve Houanard (Fra) Skil-ShimanoRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-ShimanoRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFBert De Backer (Bel) Skil-ShimanoRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFNiels Brouzes (Fra) Auber 93Row 134 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Casper (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFCedric Coutouly (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFJean-Marc Marino (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Talabardon (Fra) Besson Chaussures - SojasunRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFStéphane Bonsergent (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Cazaux (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFBastien Delrot (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Lemair (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFSteven Tronet (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFMart Ojavee (Est) Cycling Club BourgasRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFErki Pütsep (Est) Cycling Club BourgasRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFNormunds Lasis (Lat) Cycling Club BourgasRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFHristomir Angelov (Bul) Cycling Club BourgasRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Prazdnovsky (Svk) Cycling Club BourgasRow 149 - Cell 2
DNSKarsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo BankRow 150 - Cell 2
DNSRené Weissinger (Ger) Vorarlberg - CorratecRow 151 - Cell 2

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