André Greipel started the Giro d’Italia sick, but fought hard to keep his option for a pink jersey alive. He finished 18 seconds behind Briton Bradley Wiggins and there is a 20-second time bonus on the finish line in the flat stages.
Greipel knew before the stage that he had to fight hard in order to keep his dream of the leader’s jersey going. “I was aware that the 8.4 kilometers would hurt,” he wrote on his website. “Around noon I developed a fever. Our team doctor prescribed a nap,” Greipel wrote. Later his family stopped by. “I just had to grit my teeth,” he said about racing the prologue sick.
Given the circumstances, Greipel raced well. “I can be satisfied with the 18-second gap. [Sunday] it will be hectic and windy for sure. I hope at least it will stay dry.”
With a stage win, Greipel can take 20 seconds of time bonuses and receive the pink jersey, as long as well-placed sprinters in the overall won’t mess up his plans. First and foremost, there is his former teammate Greg Henderson, who lies in fifth place, only five seconds behind the lead. French sprinter William Bonnet is two seconds behind Greipel.
For the moment, Greipel is mostly thinking about sleeping, to get back the power he needs for a sprint. This gives him more chances to dream about the pink jersey.