Marcel Kittel: Being ruled out is 'most difficult time of my career'
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Updated 25/06/2015 at 13:21 GMT
German sprinter Marcel Kittel will not take part in the Tour de France after failing to fully recover from a virus, his Giant-Alpecin team said on Thursday.
Marcel Kittel
Image credit: Imago
"The team decided that Kittel's basic fitness is still not sufficient to compete in the Tour de France," the Dutch team said in a statement as they unveiled their nine-man squad for the July 4-26 race.
Kittel won four stages in last year's Tour, including the prestigious finale on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
From his statement, it is clear to discern the huge disappointment of a cyclist who established himself as the world's best sprinter at last year's Tour.
Of course I am disappointed about not participating in the Tour de France this year. But I will have to look ahead and focus on new goals, said Kittel. Not being nominated is without doubt the most difficult time of my career. The forced pause this spring was already not easy. Although there were times I wanted to just throw in the towel, I tried to stay strong and find a way. This is just another blow to me, that I didn’t earn my team’s trust for a Tour nomination. It is not a good situation but on the other hand, instructive. I will learn to cope with it and thereby I will also grow.
Giant-Alpecin will be led by one-day classic specialist German John Degenkolb, who won two of the season's most prestigious races, Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.
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No Kittel: Team Giant-Alpecin announce its final nine-rider line-up for the 102nd Tour de France.
Image credit: Eurosport
Kittel's absence also means the team could ride in support of French prospect Warren Barguil, who will be targeting a stage win in the mountains.
The 23-year-old Barguil, making his Tour de France debut, finished eighth in last year's Tour of Spain.
Explaining the decision, Giant-Alpecin team manager Iwan Spekenbrink told Cyclingnews: "He was ill during the spring and then Marcel and our coaches and trainers worked really hard in a short time to really improve his level and get him at a good point.
In that period, a lot of progression has been made but the time was too short ultimately. If we look to how he has increased his level, his sprints are already at a good level, but what we mostly fear is that his basic fitness is too fragile at the moment.
"It’s a major disappointment for Marcel himself but also for the team and everybody around the team. He’s been very successful for us over the past few years and a rider with such a special talent you wish to see at the Tour de France."
"German sprinter John Degenkolb will lead the team with his focus on obtaining good results in reduced sprints," said a Team Giant-Alpecin press release. "With Warren Barguil (FRA), Georg Preidler (AUT) and Ramon Sinkeldam (NED), the team brings three debutants to Utrecht.
"Other riders forming the line-up for Team Giant-Alpecin's fifth start at the Tour include road captain Roy Curvers (NED), starting his fourth Tour, and trusty lead-out men Koen de Kort (NED) and Albert Timmer (NED), who both participated in all Tour de France tours the team has competed in thus far. The line-up is completed by Tom Dumoulin (NED), who is aiming for a good result in the opening time trial, and Simon Geschke (GER), who together with Dumoulin returns for his third Tour."
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Mark Cavendish of Great Britain riding for Etixx - Quick-Step takes the podium after winning stage eight and securing the green points leader jersey of the 2015 Amgen Tour of California on May 17, 2015
Image credit: AFP
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR BRITISH SPRINTER MARK CAVENDISH?
Not that he will admit it publicly, but every cloud has a silver lining as they say. Kittel's absence from the Tour is hardly going to do Cavendish any harm as he bids to add to his 25 Tour de France stage wins. Kittel had won four stages in the last two Tours to challenge Cav's supremacy as the world's leading sprinter. If he stay clears of injury, Cavendish could revel in more glory without Kittel breathing down his neck.
Amazingly, Cavendish has never beaten Kittel in a head-to-head sprint for the line with a stage win at stake. And while the Manxman will be delighted at the prospect of adding more Tour stage wins to his tally, he will no doubt be slightly saddened at the thought that he won't be able to get that particular monkey off his back.
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