Marcel Kittel showed he is back on form by winning two sprint stages and the overall classification at the Dubai Tour but confirmed he has no plans to target Milan-San Remo this season.
Kittel won stage one and stage four at the Dubai Tour. The ten-second time bonuses he collected for each victory were important for his overall success but it was his huge effort on the 17 per cent ramp to the edge of Hatta Dam that ensured he stayed within reach of Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) before the final stage and his winning sprint.
Kittel emulated former teammate John Degenkolb on the steep climb, using his power and anaerobic sprinting ability to defy the pull of gravity and finish in the slipstream of the Italian, Fabian Cancellara and Philippe Gilbert. Both collapsed to the ground after their effort in the steep climb, with Kittel gasping for air as he fought the pain in his legs and lungs. Degenkolb went on to win Milan-San Remo last year but Kittel quickly stopped any idea he could or would go on to achieve the same success in La Classicissima.
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"The Poggio is longer than the 200-metre climb to Hatta Dama," Kittel joked to make his point clear but quickly turning serious about his decision to skip Milan-San Remo.
"I don't honestly think it suits me, at least with the changes they made to the route. It's too tough for the sprinters now. I think the last time a really pure sprinter won it was Cavendish back in 2009. Every year there's bad weather or something. It's getting harder and harder and it's the same in general, other races are getting harder too."
Race organiser RCS Sport, who also organise the Dubai Tour reassured Cyclingnews that this year's Milan-San Remo will stay as per recent tradition, with only the Turchino, Cipressa and Poggio, the real climbs in the near 300km route.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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