André Greipel wins 2nd stage at 2010 Tour of Britain; Michael Albasini holds lead

André Greipel (HTC-Columbia) won his second stage of the Tour of Britain on Thursday.

Greipel took a field sprint ahead of Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) and Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Team Saxo Bank) to win the 190km sixth stage from King’s Lynn to Great Yarmouth. He also won the opening stage on Saturday in Blackpool.

The win was Greipel’s 20th of the season, and came after a day filled with labor on behalf of teammate and race leader Michael Albasini, said HTC-Columbia sporting director Brian Holm.

“André did an amazing job,” said Holm. “He was working all day for Albasini but I said to him if he felt good he could go for it. It was complicated. We’ve only got four riders here, so André has to support Michael. But other teams did some chasing and then in the last kilometer it all came down to a bunch sprint and they couldn’t stop him.”

Albasini leads the race by 1:26 over Bozic and 1:27 over Richie Porte (Saxo Bank) going into Friday’s seventh stage, a 152.3km leg from Bury St. Edmunds to Colchester.

“We’re definitely on track now to try and take the leader’s jersey to London for Michael, too,” said Holm. “There are still two days to go, but we’re doing well.”

The Tour of Britain concludes Saturday in London.

Complete results

Quick results
Stage 6

• 1. André Greipel (Ger), HTC-Columbia, 4:09:05
• 2. Borut Bozic (Slo), Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, s.t.
• 3. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg), Team Saxo Bank, s.t.
• 4. Greg Henderson (Nzl), Team Sky, s.t.
• 5. Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita), ISD-Neri, s.t.

Overall

• 1. Michael Albasini (Sui), HTC-Columbia, 24:02:14
• 2. Borut Bozic (Slo), Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 1:26
• 3. Richie Porte (Aus), Team Saxo Bank, at 1:27
• 4. Greg Henderson (Nzl), Team Sky, at 1:33
• 5. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned), Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 1:37