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André Greipel will target stage wins at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 2015 as he makes a change to his usual early season schedule by skipping the Tour Down Under in January.

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The German sprinter has been at the race in Australia for the last seven years, but will miss the week long stage race to be ready for the Spring Classics.

“It’s a pity I won’t go to Australia, because I always liked being there and I set very good results,” he told Sky Sports.

“For me, Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem are the most important Classics – I’ll take my chance there. I will ride the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in function of the team. We want to be strong as a whole.”

Though the Lotto-Belisol rider has accrued six stage wins at the Tour de France and two at the Giro in his career so far, Greipel has only won one grand tour stage in each of the last two year, and will target two of the three-week races to try and add to his total.

“I’ll ride the Giro next year. I participated for the last time in 2010,” he said. “The Tour is again a goal in July, so I will start in two Grand Tours.”

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