Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Marcel Kittel has left Katusha Alpecin by mutual consent

Kittel says his contract has been terminated early “on his request", citing exhaustion and "not being able to train and race at the highest level" ...

The German sprinter Marcel Kittel has agreed to have his contract with Katusha Alpecin terminated early by mutual consent. Kittel thanked his team for their support over the last 18 months, citing exhaustion and not feeling able to compete at the highest level as reasons for the decision.  

Kittel's statement in full on Katusha Alpecin's website says: “On my request Team Katusha Alpecin and I have mutually decided to an early termination of my current contract.

"It was for me a long decision process where I raised a lot of questions about how and where I want to go as a person and athlete and what is really important to me. I love cycling and my passion for this beautiful sport is never gone, but I also know what it requires from me and what I need to do to be successful. I believe that everyone has his strengths and weaknesses and that it is an ongoing process to deal with them within a team to be strong and successful. In the last two months I have had the feeling of being exhausted. 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. 

"At this point I'd like to thank the team for the last 1.5 years and their support. Especially I'd like to thank the team staff. From the bottom of my heart I can say that they are the best and hardest working people that I've ever seen. I'm sorry that I couldn't fuel your passion with more wins and results. I'd like to thank the sponsors and partners as well that keep believing in the team with their support and knowledge.

"I've taken this decision based on my experience that changes lead you to new paths and opportunities. Despite all the insecurities I've got confidence that I ultimately will find new chances and challenges. From now on I will put my happiness and joy above everything and seek ways to find this also in my future. I´m very excited about what is going to come. I would like to ride and race again in the future and I have to work out a plan to be able to reach this goal. 

"This is the biggest challenge of my career and I'm accepting it.”

Katusha's manager José Azevedo said: “It is with sadness that we have agreed with Marcel’s request to step away from the team and from racing. We understand the situation in which Marcel is and we fully support him in this difficult time. All the team members will continue supporting Marcel in the future and we hope that he will soon get back to racing as the champion he is. 

"On behalf of Team Katusha Alpecin and all its sponsors and partners we wish Marcel all the best for the future.”

Kittel had a stellar 2017 at Etixx–Quick-Step, when he won five Tour de France stages and appeared unstoppable; however since his move last year the German hasn't been able to recapture any of that form, with his only stage wins in 2018 coming at the Tirreno–Adriatico.   

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

Add new comment

8 comments

Avatar
jollygoodvelo | 4 years ago
3 likes

Outstanding classy response from Cavendish here.  Get well soon Kittens. https://twitter.com/MarkCavendish/status/1126721586495492098

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 4 years ago
0 likes

Good for him that he has made the decision and not dragged out his contract thus not doing justice to his position as the big sprint name/ main chance of big stage wins, takes guts to admit you're not at the races and that you need to step back and have a rethink about where your life is going.

I hope he finds whatever it is that makes him content, maybe he might have a go on the track sometie down the line but getting into grass roots cycling/ambassador for safe cycling in Germany, give him a break from the physicality of top cycling but still involved and helping cycling as a whole. Dunno if he has children but spending time with them and just taking stock could regen the batteries.

Avatar
RobD | 4 years ago
1 like

I hope to see him back, or at least riding in some form or another, while he's never been my favourite sprinter I've always thought he was good for the sport. I guess sprinting is probably the worst for your form dropping behind, then trying to chase performance and over training and the whole cycle going round and round, especially the big drag racer type sprinter he is, he's not likely to get the opportunistic results the likes of Sagan etc are.

Avatar
JohnnyRemo | 4 years ago
0 likes

Who's going to be the face of the shampoo ads now???

 

Utterly awsome sprinter at his best - hope he gets back to it.

Avatar
JohnnyRemo | 4 years ago
1 like

Who's going to be the face of the shampoo ads now???

 

Utterly awsome sprinter at his best - hope he gets back to it.

Avatar
Rapha Nadal | 4 years ago
2 likes

Sad news.  I hope he recovers from whatever is going on and makes a return.

Avatar
Sniffer | 4 years ago
2 likes

When I read he had pulled out of the ToC I wondered if he was well. Whatever demons he is struggling with I hope he comes out OK.

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Sounds very like retirement speech.   

Latest Comments