German to increase 14 season wins in Herald Sun Tour
The Jayco Herald Sun Tour has confirmed Marcel Kittel’s (Skil-Shimano) participation in the race to be held from the 12th – 16th October. The German sprinter has had a season that resembles world champion Mark Cavendish’s first season in the pro ranks with an impressive amount of victories.
So far Kittel has tallied a total of fourteen wins this season, including his first stage win in a Grand Tour that he achieved in this year’s Vuelta a España. Impressively, he also won four of the seven stages in the tough Tour of Poland in August and now looks to increase that win total in Australia.
“We have a strong team for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour and I’m convinced that we can win stages there in a sprint, personally, but also from a breakaway and when we have a finish climb like on stage four,” Kittel said.
“I expect a very nice race and an easygoing Australian atmosphere with hopefully nice weather.
“It’s the last race for me this year so I want to enjoy it with my team as much as possible and if there is a sprint I want to win it.”
Kittel will be no stranger to racing in Australia as last year he spent the end of season Down Under where he finished third in the under 23 individual time trial.
“I know the area around Geelong from the world championships last year. I had a really good time there and I spent a few more weeks in Australia for holiday and I saw a lot,” Kittel said.
“I heard that the race will pass a few great Australian sights like the Great Ocean Road and the city of Melbourne and of course there are already some big names on the winners list. I’m very excited and looking forward to it.”
It will be one of the last races of the season in what has been a very successful one for the Skil-Shimano team. The Dutch outfit is intent on continuing its growth pattern and has signed John Degenkolb and Patrick Gretsch from soon to be defunct HTC-Highroad.
Skil-Shimano has also applied for a World Tour licence and should it be successful, it will have automatic entry to races such as the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia that could see Kittel test his speed against the world’s fastest sprinters.