Kittel

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The new Jalabert.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

No California.

 

[42x16ss]

That would be absolutely brilliant! I think you have the wrong thread

Crap! Was meant for the Betancur thread :lol:

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

No California.

They have some decent wines there, I've heard, so this is a bit of a surprise.

 

[Anderis]

Re:

Currently 6th on GC at Romandie, more and more signs of life...

Now... that would explain why his sprint is not as good anymore. :lol:

 

[Tim Booth]

Re: Re:

I think it is tasteless to say that about someone, even if it is true or not. And to say it when you dont know for sure is plain stupid. "or so I have heard..." is a cowardly thing to say.

If Kittel is being reckless and not taking care himself is one thing, but it could be something deeper behind it and then he should receive help and support. Not slander and people gossiping about it.

If his heart is not in it anymore and he dont really care about being a professional, then the team should intervene and have a conversation with him and lay down some rules if he gonna keep riding for the team or terminate his contract.

Marcel Kittel: “On my request Team KATUSHA ALPECIN (TKA) and I have mutually decided to an early termination of my current contract.
full statement here
https://teamkatushaalpecin.com/news/team-katusha-alpecin-and-marcel-kittel-have-agreed-terminate-their-contractual-relationship-its

 

[Alexandre B.]

So that's that: https://teamkatushaalpecin.com/news/team-katusha-alpecin-and-marcel-kittel-have-agreed-terminate-their-contractual-relationship-its

 

[MatParker117]

I wonder if this is something similar to Peter Kennaugh.

 

[Jancouver]

Viviani out.
Kittel back to QuickStep.
All problems solved.

 

[jmdirt]

HMM...I wonder if the alternative blood therapies he used in his younger days messed with his immune system (maybe even his endocrine system too)? FYI: not clinic, the blood cleansing/purification stuff he was experimenting with in his younger days.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Re:

Viviani out.
Kittel back to QuickStep.
All problems solved.

Katusha could try to get Viviani.
DQ already have Jakobsen as their next top sprinter and Hodeg as the 2nd guy.
That said, many teams would probably try to get Kittel, just give him a low base salary a big win bonuses. Dimension Donkey could try to sign him to replace Cav.

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

Viviani out.
Kittel back to QuickStep.
All problems solved.

Katusha could try to get Viviani.
DQ already have Jakobsen as their next top sprinter and Hodeg as the 2nd guy.
That said, many teams would probably try to get Kittel, just give him a low base salary a big win bonuses. Dimension Donkey could try to sign him to replace Cav.

Think he might need a team with a staff psychiatrist which as far as I'm aware leaves DQS, AG2R and Ineos

 

[Screecher]

Kittel must be dirt cheap right now. Might even be worth risking giving him a contract. If it doesn't work out, no big loss.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Viviani out.
Kittel back to QuickStep.
All problems solved.

Katusha could try to get Viviani.
DQ already have Jakobsen as their next top sprinter and Hodeg as the 2nd guy.
That said, many teams would probably try to get Kittel, just give him a low base salary a big win bonuses. Dimension Donkey could try to sign him to replace Cav.

Think he might need a team with a staff psychiatrist which as far as I'm aware leaves DQS, AG2R and Ineos

Movistar has a psychiatrist as well. However, not sure how well he speaks any language other than Spanish. I read an interview with him 4 or so years ago. He talked about a lot of things and one thing he said was that to motivate riders you have to learn each rider as they all need motivated differently.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Viviani out.
Kittel back to QuickStep.
All problems solved.

Katusha could try to get Viviani.
DQ already have Jakobsen as their next top sprinter and Hodeg as the 2nd guy.
That said, many teams would probably try to get Kittel, just give him a low base salary a big win bonuses. Dimension Donkey could try to sign him to replace Cav.

Think he might need a team with a staff psychiatrist which as far as I'm aware leaves DQS, AG2R and Ineos

Movistar has a psychiatrist as well. However, not sure how well he speaks any language other than Spanish. I read an interview with him 4 or so years ago. He talked about a lot of things and one thing he said was that to motivate riders you have to learn each rider as they all need motivated differently.

Ground-breaking stuff.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

DQ already have Jakobsen as their next top sprinter and Hodeg as the 2nd guy.

Not putting too much stock in Hodeg, to be honest. Even if he evolves to be as fast Jakobsen, Viviani, Gaviria... Let me put it this way: winning a sprint is not only about being the fastest. And currently, he's not even close to being the fastest.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Viviani out.
Kittel back to QuickStep.
All problems solved.

Katusha could try to get Viviani.
DQ already have Jakobsen as their next top sprinter and Hodeg as the 2nd guy.
That said, many teams would probably try to get Kittel, just give him a low base salary a big win bonuses. Dimension Donkey could try to sign him to replace Cav.

Think he might need a team with a staff psychiatrist which as far as I'm aware leaves DQS, AG2R and Ineos

Movistar has a psychiatrist as well. However, not sure how well he speaks any language other than Spanish. I read an interview with him 4 or so years ago. He talked about a lot of things and one thing he said was that to motivate riders you have to learn each rider as they all need motivated differently.

Ground-breaking stuff.

He was asked something about motivating riders and that was his response. However, you'd think that would be common sense.

 

[nayr497]

Woah, how quickly his situation has changed. Jeez.

 

[Bolder]

Lefevre seems to know the deal. Pro cycling is a meat grinder, given the need for 100 percent commitment, and if you can't roll with the punches, then it must be hell. Hope Marcel finds some happiness, on or off the bike.

 

[Jagartrott]

Reads like someone with a burn-out.

 

[geisterhome]

he has retired, i didnt see a post abt it.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Marcel Kittel beendet seine Karriere

Einer der erfolgreichsten Sprinter der Welt tritt ab: Marcel Kittel hört mit dem Radsport auf - mit gerade einmal 31 Jahren. Ihm fehlt die Motivation, sich weiter "auf dem Rad zu quälen".

www.spiegel.de

Here's the report. He claims to have lost motivation to suffer on the bike. He now plans to study economics.

I like that. He has won everything that was possible for him.
Thank you, Marcel, for this great career.

 

[Ricco']

Great decision.

If his mind wasn't 100% on being a professional rider, no point of trying to force something that wasn't there anymore.

 

[staubsauger]

Sad news. Kittel in 2013,2014 & 2017 certainly was a true rocket sprinter like Alejet & Cipo during their prime!
Something Cavendish just wasn't, despite his impressive palmares!

Once Jumbo-Visma was rumored to sign Dumoulin, it became clear that there wouldn't be space for Kittel anymore.

Still, would've liked the idea of him riding a lighter schedule and focusing on the Giro d'Italia!

 

[Leinster]

Sad news. Kittel in 2013,2014 & 2017 certainly was a true rocket sprinter like Alejet & Cipo during their prime!
Something Cavendish just wasn't, despite his impressive palmares!

Once Jumbo-Visma was rumored to sign Dumoulin, it became clear that there wouldn't be space for Kittel anymore.

Still, would've liked the idea of him riding a lighter schedule and focusing on the Giro d'Italia!

No space at Jumbo, but space at Sunweb, or maybe Quickstep.

Still, good luck to him. As you say, at his best, he was just unstoppable. The inevitability of Kittel blasting past everyone at 5-10 kmh faster than they could was a sight to behold.