Greipel takes the lead with time trial win

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Andre Greipel led an HTC-Columbia one-two in the opening individual time trial of the 2010 Presidential Tour of Turkey. The German sprinter claimed the first leader's jersey of the race in Istanbul with a six-second victory over teammate Tejay Van Garderen. Maciej Bodnar (Liquigas-Doimo) finished third, three seconds further back.

"It was windy alongside the Bosphorus but that was the same for all the riders," Greipel said. "I saved some energy for the climb."

The day belonged to HTC-Columbia, as they finished the stage with five riders inside the top-10. Greipel covered the 5.8-kilometre course in 8:40, bettering Van Garderen's earlier benchmark. Their young Belgian teammate Jan Ghyselinck had been one of the first riders to record a time below nine minutes. Ghyselinck's 8:53 saw him finish sixth on the stage.

Bodnar and Rein Tarramae (Cofidis) were able to interrupt the HTC party somewhat as they moved in to occupy third and fourth positions.

The stage finished in the historical city center, in front of Haghya Sophia. Greipel was inspired by the magical setting.

"For me, Turkey has meant holidays," he said. "I went to the beach in Bilek before, but it's my first time racing in this country. I came with the ambition of winning a stage, but I didn't expect it would happen today. Sometimes I do good prologues, sometimes bad ones.

"I decided to give it all to this one. It came from a bet this morning with my roommate Bert Grabsch. As he's been the World Champion for time trial, and he's still the German champion, I told him I'd do a better time than him, but I didn't really believe what I said. I'm happy with the team's result today."

His win today bumped his total for the season up to seven victories, the most of any other pro racer in the peloton for 2010.

Greipel will now wear yellow in tomorrow's 181-kilometre stage from Kusadasi to Turgutreis, just outside the tourist destination of Bodrum. A sprint finish is expected, which should benefit Greipel.

UCI President Pat McQuaid had stopped in Istanbul on his way to Dubai for the Asian Cycling Championships. "To have the best team in the world winning here means there is a great week of racing ahead," he predicted.