The Gorilla racked up 13 individual wins in 2013, and while his star may have fallen slightly during the Tour de France, he showed he is still a major contender in bunch gallops. Having kicked off his year with three stage wins at the Tour Down Under – including holding the ochre jersey after the first stage – Greipel was also crowned German national champion in June and picked up victory during stage six of the Tour de France.
His unmistakeable frame was also squeezed into the leaders’ jerseys at the Tour Mediterranean, Tour of Turkey and Tour of Belgium while his consistency both in the bunch sprints and intermediate sprints has kept him at the sharp end of several points classifications. Victory at the 1.HC-classified Brussels Cycling Classic in September, followed by second at the GP de Fourmies the following day, show he is not past his best yet.
