Marcel Kittel could sign with Jumbo-Visma, according to reports
The German sprinter has taken a step back from the sport but reports suggest at least one team has shown interest
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Marcel Kittel could sign with Dutch WorldTour team Jumbo-Visma according to reports.
German sprint superstar Kittel has taken a step back from the sport after splitting with Katusha-Alpecin mid-season.
The 31-year-old has struggled to reach previous heights in recent years, announcing last month that he had quit the Swiss outfit saying “at this moment I am not able to train and race at the highest level.”
But Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports there may already be interest in Kittel from a new team.
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Jumbo-Visma sports director Merijn Zeeman is believed to be interested in bringing Kittel on board, after the pair had great success while working together at Argos-Shimano.
Kittel is one of the greatest sprinters of his generation, having won 14 stages of the Tour de France, including five stages in the 2017 edition alone.
But he has struggled to perform after leaving Belgian super-team Deceuninck - Quick-Step at the end of that season.
We won just three races during his 17-month stint with Katusha-Alpecin, which caused a public breakdown of relations with team management.
This season he was pulled from the Tour de Yorkshire at the last minute and was not included in the squad for the Tour of California, shortly before the team announced his immediate departure.
Announcing the decision to quit the team, Kittel said: “In the last two months I have had the feeling of being exhausted.
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“At this moment, I am not able to train and race at the highest level. For this reason, I have decided to take a break and take time for myself, think about my goals and make a plan for my future.”
He recently provided an update on his life since leaving the team, saying he had taken time for himself and is “doing well.”
Jumbo-Visma has developed into one of the most versatile team in the peloton, with genuine Grand Tour contenders like Primož Roglič and Steven Kruijswijk being bolstered by star sprinter Dylan Groenewegen and Classics specialist Wout Van Aert.
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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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