DFA123 said:
It's absolute nonsense to hate on Kittel because he's not as versatile as Sagan, Degenkolb or Kristoff. That's like hating Contador or Quintana because they're not as versatile as Valverde or Nibali.
But, like Gerrans in the hillier races, because he isn't as versatile as those three, he's kind of become emblematic of the worst kind of racing.
Gerrans winning is now a by-word for negative, conservative "wait for the race to develop" racing where everybody is too scared to make a move. His style of racing is effective, but relies on other people racing poorly to allow him the chance to play his one card. This means people don't enjoy watching him race, and the only races he wins are the ones that have been no fun to watch otherwise either.
Kittel winning has become a by-word for the most tedious, uninspiring of flat stages, because when we get interesting flat stages, ones with a few challenges here and there, those riders like Sagan, Degenkolb or Kristoff (or Bouhanni, as well) are the ones winning. His style of racing is effective (hence why he needn't change), but because it only works on pretty benign, insipid stages, and is predicated on suffocating race action so that he can play his one card, this means people don't enjoy watching him race, and the races he wins are ones that have been no fun to watch otherwise either.
Race organizers can try to do something about the Gerrans problem, but it's reliant on the riders being willing to race on the parcours they give them. It's a lot easier to do something about the Kittel problem, but it seems organizers quite like having a sprint superstar turn up to bolster the line-up so they give them a few gifts at the start of the race. I think that in his attitude about defending jerseys and riding hills Kittel is rather disrespectful of those races and traditions and don't think guys like him deserve a free-ride to the maglia rosa.
Oh, and he wore a skinsuit in a road race. To me, that should carry an instant two year ban.