Cycling: Greipel claims emotional Tour Down Under stage win

[January 16, 2018]    (Reuters) - German Andre Greipel snatched his 148th professional victory when he claimed an emotional win in the Tour Down Under opening stage on Tuesday.

Lotto Soudal rider Andre Greipel of Germany wins on the finish line. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

The Lotto-Soudal rider, whose mother died last month, edged past Australian Caleb Ewan with 50 meters left as world champion Peter Sagan of Slovakia took third place.

"I think my whole career is dedicated to her," Greipel said of his mother.

Greipel now has one more professional career victory than Briton Mark Cavendish, who is not taking part in the first World Tour (elite) race of the season.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot,; Editing by Ed Osmond)

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