Marcel Kittel models new Etixx-QuickStep team kit

Etixx-QuickStep has released photos of new signing Marcel Kittel modelling its redesigned 2016 team kit.

German sprint star Kittel joins the Belgian WorldTour team from Giant-Alpecin next season, where he hopes to regain his form and position as one of the world's fastest sprinters.

The team strip itself, designed by Vermarc, is a departure from the squad's previous design, ditching the light blue of the past few seasons and incorporating a dark blue colour. New co-sponsor Lidl's yellow logo adds a splash of colour to the shoulders and back.

"It's an elegant and modern jersey, which will be easy to spot in the pack," said Kittel via a team statement. "I like it a lot, because it's very classy and it makes me proud to wear it."

Kittel's 2015 season started well with victory in the People's Choice Classic in Australia, but an illness picked up during the Tour Down Under plagued him all season.

Despite training hard to regain his form in time to contest the 2015 Tour de France sprint stages, Kittel was left of Giant-Alpecin's roster for the race. A move that seemed to put stress on the relationship between the 27-year-old and the German squad that only worsened when he was also left off its Vuelta a España team.

“I want to thank the team for the faith they’ve put in me, and that they will support me in this new chapter of my career,” Kittel said when the news was announced of his move to Etixx-QuickStep. “I am looking forward to the new challenges of Etixx-QuickStep, a team, I consider as one of the best teams in the world.

Last week, Kittel attended new team-mate Tom Boonen's charity cyclo-cross event.