Rise and Decline of Marcel Kittel | inCycle

[@walkergv]

Hate this title. Kittel was a monster at his peak and got out when he was done. Moving on to a real life after a wild and successful run in his 20s - we should all be so lucky. Big ups to Marcel.

[@frankburn6312]

Glenn Walker sprints don’t last like Gc riders.

[@phill2383]

I think you are right Glenn , like all the greats I just wish he stuck around a little longer.

[@caseykittel]

thank you. they are overly dramatizing the whole thing.

[@roadyeti3697]

Why do you call it Decline? It's just natural athletic progression. Especially in sprinters world. Still young, and set for life. Chapeau, Marcel

[@timdrocs8630]

That guy was just unbeatable when he was in top form. For me the best sprinter of the 2010's years

[@BB-se9bl]

Tim Drocs was Cavendish playing football in the 2010’s?

[@timdrocs8630]

@@BB-se9bl Cavendish is one of the greatest sprinter of history, maybe the greatest, but he was unbeatable from 2008 to 2011. Then, in the 2010's he was often beaten by kittel (and greipel also) for me he is one of the best sprinter of history but not the best of the 2010's

[@BB-se9bl]

Tim Drocs Cav won his most GT stages in 2010 and after, including the points jersey in all 3 GT’s.

[@timdrocs8630]

@@BB-se9bl in the early 2010,s. When kittel came to the top he beat cav more often that cav beat him... That's my opinion, in pure sprint kittel was stronger than him. But Cavendish was more complete

[@davemellor4697]

@@BB-se9bl Cavendish was a very bad sportsman,always finding excuses if he lost a sprint,Kittel was a genuine nice guy who never complained and knew when he was past his best unlike Cavendish who is still out there moaning!

[@bibartvivian3694]

It doesn't matter that his top form only lasted like 5 years, it matters that he was nowhere to beat in those 5 years: those Tour de France victories will always be remembered and of course Scheldeprijs.

[@Svartez]

He holds a special place in my heart because I have only seen one Tour de France stage in person and on that day Kittel was in the maillot jaune. There's certainly no shame in his retirement with the glittering career he has had. A stage win in all 3 grand tours 14 Tour de france stage victories including the Champs-Élysées twice, AND the Yellow Jersey twice!

[@mightyPants]

I don't think it's fair to say he declined, he no longer enjoyed pro cycling and decided to do something else. Fair play to him. He's achieved a great amount in a short career.

[@NAJMFAN]

The best sprinter in the world! There will never be another like him. He also had the character to match! One of the nicest guys in the world.

[@phildelgiudice3448]

One of my favs. Was sorry to see him go. Beyond the mental strain we need to also look at the pressure to stay fit, lean and ready to put in countless hours of training in all sorts of weather etc. these guys and gals sacrifice so much to be on top. Maybe Marcel is sending us all a message....

[@happydays8171]

After taking 6mos off, he tried to train and get back in pro form. In an interview I read he asked himself, "Why am I punishing myself like this?" When he was on top of his game, he sure was fun to watch.

[@Ih8GoogleandApple]

Marcel was awesome when he was on a team that had the skills to utilize his talent. His finishing wattage must have been unreal considering his size. Nils Pollit and Cees Bol are two other big guys who must be bending cranksets with their sprint power

[@angusowens1189]

Pollit ain't a sprinter

[@thomaslord9991]

UrAverageBiker 98 pollits more of a classics rider, still has unbelievable power though

[@SwedishHouseFifa]

When he won 3 stages in a row during the Giro 2014... legendary!

[@Shauncat1]

One of my favorite sprinters, I enjoyed watching his races indeed

[@Grunge_Cycling]

2270 watts ten-second sprint power. That's why!

[@yoyoyoyoyo1959]

Where did you get that from ?

[@caskinfg]

Peak maybe but not 10 seconds

[@katozord]

source?

[@mikodizon-bumann6024]

He was my favorite 😓 sad to see him retire but he had a great career

[@cyborgk801]

these the type videos i like, along with updates on stages

[@juliocircus4654]

Also important to mention that he clearly stated that he wanted to retire mainly because of his family, he has a young kid.

[@stijnw5336]

Still my favourite sprinter

[@jamesmilne4233]

This will mean nothing to the majority of you, but if he'd been bought up in NZ he would have been a world class blindside flanker. That final scene there where the team is celebrating with a glass of wine, Kittel, Degenkolb, and Dumoulin. That was the team I backed. Where did their management decide not to nurture and look after their stars?

[@hayabusa27]

He won more stages than Sagan in TDF 2017. This guy is a monster on the bike. He has nothing else to prove.

[@ryanchristophermacalong9012]

That's because Sagan and Cavendish wasn't there.

[@treygray2817]

@@polperezfernandez3115 The poggio is too tough for Kittel. San Remo is a big ask.

[@jezhopo7221]

@@treygray2817 86kg

[@treygray2817]

@@jezhopo7221 Statement stands. Kittel's climbing was horrendous even for a sprinter.

[@happydays8171]

@@treygray2817 Amen. Wiggins made the switch from sprinter to climber, not many others have.

[@stephanmuller3478]

Sehr schade das er gegangen ist. Einer der ganz Großen im deutschen Radsport.

[@chuckp3739]

That was and still is great. The very best to him and his family.......

[@juliocircus4654]

Skipped 2013 season! That one was important, he won in front of Cavendish in TDF...

[@abyg5781]

Everything goes up and down hill ,he maked it for sure 👏

[@jw5764]

What a lad!

[@Headhunterzify]

Thank you for those five years, Kittel. Be happy and be free.

[@Shadowboost]

Kittel was essentially the Thor Hushovd of the 2010s

[@Kippcom]

Kittel was way faster

[@skrxxet7845]

No Hushovd was more complete hes a world champion

[@skrxxet7845]

@@polperezfernandez3115 you just made my point lol. I was saying that Thor is better too.

[@eddiel7635]

Fav was quicker than Thor but Kittel was quicker than Cav in a straight drag

[@evobirkz8]

Both big and powerful time trialists turned sprinters, Thor became a classics rider and even won a mountain stage even

[@pandymoose]

If he hadn't crashed at the 2017 tour there is every chance he could have won seven stages!

[@SurpriseMeJT]

The title is a little dramatic because he didn't "decline" or "fall", he just didn't want to be a professional anymore, unlike Cavendish who sticks around still trying but only in it for the paycheck it seems.

[@johns3106]

It seems that many of the top sprinters through the years have a handful of unbeatable years, and then the wins just stop coming, like a switch has been thrown.

[@jackc3014]

See Gaviria, Viviani, Cav even

[@philipdevenish9416]

Yeah they stop winning like a switch has been thrown.....One has to ask what is this switch? Echos of Dr Ferrari!

[@Martwaitforit]

Still the best rider for me!

[@simonanderson8228]

J b . Quickstep has always been a classics team , season is judged on wins in march and april . 1 of grand tours is the goal of sprinter so even tho they have a great roster , by the time giro or tdf comes the best lead out riders are over there peak . Diff training programs also hamper practise of a well drilled lead out .

[@somethingbetter2716]

Mistake was leaving the wolf pack

[@Physicist999]

Definitely. He might have even not retired

[@cyka4075]

Why sprinter leave quick step

[@jonieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

a champion but also a nice character!

[@jeovani2131]

Unfortunately he's gone. We all gonna miss him

[@theoforde-stiegler]

Why decline?

[@vivekrbs]

Great career.Great sprinter .

[@wilsonsou3540]

Just like rosberg In f1. He’s been there, he’s had the wins. But when you feel like it’s time to move on to another stage in life you just had to let go. Kudos to him

[@AlessioPunzi]

I wonder why it didn't occur to him to maybe re-train for the track and eye Tokyo. Poor team support? The prospect of an Olympic medal could be a powerful motivator.

[@happydays8171]

Great comment, but getting back into PRO form again was holding him back.

[@ProfessorSteez]

Why do sprinters leave Quickstep? The extra money is nice, but not life changing. If Kittel stayed, I bet he’d still be on the bike.

[@lukaserichintzen2995]

Best Srpinter in this degrade!

[@jamesmilne4233]

may just want to double check your spelling there dude...

[@tn40pedaller17]

Anyone please suggest me an road racing bike under 2.6 lakhs please???

[@atifwheeleratifwheeler4707]

Marcel little best player

[@NeoPayneHK]

when he beat Cav at 2013 he became one of my favourite sprinter

[@s3cr3td00rindar00m]

I wouldn't call decline.

[@tcm052]

Real men ride Propel, salute

[@roberttaylor8130]

LAME TITLE....change it have some respect for the people that give so much to the sport. This is part of the reason people leave pro cycling.....at it was my reason.#benice

[@wardsluyts5514]

😢😭😢😢😭😢😢

[@Adiol]

He made sprinting really boring. You knew from the beginning he was going to win. Didn’t matter if cav or anybody were there. I miss his long explosive sprints.

[@D13-r9w]

Has there every been a more sus profile!

[@_rizkyrmdni_]

Ziggy zagga ziggy zagga oi oi oi !!!!!!!!

[@madpeddler8263]

Just think of what he could have become if only he had used Campagnolo.

[@madpeddler8263]

@Pete is never wrong Nah, I think the video proved that he managed that just fine without Campy.

[@treygray2817]

Campy is best for show and pleasure bikes; Shimano best for racing. Edit: Shimano is best for racing for economic reasons.

[@mlee6136]

Mechanicals...

[@dr.merlot1532]

He ate too much McDonnalds.

[@Nonixification]

Very weak mentality, thats a shame.

[@aj010139]

and how many tour stages did you win? oh what ashame

[@cuckooreloaded]

Dude looks like gigachad if he went cycling