Scheldeprijs, with its pan-flat course, has come to be known as the unofficial sprinters’ world championships. What better setting, then, for Marcel Kittel to provide confirmation that he is returning to the heights of his powers, and is ready to re-establish himself as the top sprinter in the world.
The German claimed an unprecedented fourth victory in the Belgian Classic on Wednesday, but it was not so much the record that pleased him – "I don’t race for history; that’s not what cycling is about" – as the names that appeared below his on the day’s results sheet.
Mark Cavendish, Andre Greipel. Further down: Alexander Kristoff, Elia Viviani. Elsewhere: Niccolo Bonifazio, Wouter Wippert, Sam Bennett, Andrea Guardini.
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He has beaten almost all of them individually at various points this season, but the significance of defeating them all in one fell swoop was not lost upon him and, as such, he described it as his biggest victory since his illness-ridden and form-deserted annus horribilis of 2015.
"All the big names were in that race – they lined up to go for the victory. To win against all the other guys, if you just look at the podium, that’s a really important win," said Kittel in his post-race press conference.
"There was such good competition, so many other good sprinters here. It makes it very special and I’m very proud of it."
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