Zemke successor: Greipel becomes BDR team boss

Former professional cyclist André Greipel becomes the new team manager of the German road cycling team, taking over from Jens Zemke.

As announced by the German Cycling Federation (BDR), the Rostock-born cyclist will be in charge of the professional team at all international championships in future. The 40-year-old is regarded as one of the most successful German professional cyclists.

"This is completely new for me, a big challenge. I'm really looking forward to working with the athletes and want to get the best out of them," said Greipel.

According to the BDR, his predecessor Zemke will no longer be able to continue in his role as sporting director and national coach due to scheduling reasons. Greipel is also responsible for the team line-up together with BDR Vice President Marcus Burghardt.

The family man, who now lives in Cologne, is the best German professional cyclist in history in terms of victories with 158 wins. In his career, he has won eleven stages at the Tour de France, was fastest on seven stages of the Giro d`Italia and was German road champion in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

The relationship between Greipel and the BDR was not always good. In 2021, shortly before the end of his career, he criticised the federation because it had often made him promises "that were then not kept".

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