Marcel Kittel is targetting stage wins at the Tour of Poland next month, his first race since missing out on selection for Giant-Alpecin’s Tour de France squad.

The German has suffered with a recurring illness this season, which has disrupted his season on a number of occasions.

After winning the opening race of the season at the People’s Choice Classic in Australia, Kittel has only managed 22 racing days in 2015 with only one other top-10 finish.

The Tour of Poland kicks off in Warsaw on August 2 with six road stages before an individual time trial round Krakow on August 8.

“I am looking forward to racing again after a good period of training at home,” said Kittel. “The Tour de Pologne is a nice race to get back into racing and gain rhythm. As a team, we will be aiming to win sprint stages in Poland.”

Kittel was left out of Giant-Alpecin’s Tour de France squad because of his lack of race fitness and described it as the most difficult times of his career.