Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) held up his open hand indicating a fifth stage victory at this year's Tour de France in Pau on Wednesday and confirming his dominance in the sprints. Yet the German sprinter insisted that so much success would not make him arrogant or overconfident as he chases further stage victories and the green points jersey.
Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) dominated the sprints in 2016, leaving Kittel frustrated. But even before the Manxman, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Arnaud Demare (FDJ) exited the Tour, Kittel had his first victory. Since they've gone, he's won all of the sprint finales.
"It's a crazy Tour. We're achieving something outstanding. It's a lifetime experience. I'm still trying to realise what is happening," Kittel explained after the emotions of his latest victory subsided somewhat.
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"This is not a small race, it's the Tour de France. It's a huge achievement for me and the team. But I know that everyone can be beaten and I always keep that in mind. It's dangerous to start thinking I'm unbeatable and [become] arrogant and that I don't need to stay focused on sprint."
In theory, there are still three other stages that could end in sprints in this year's Tour de France, with the very last on the Champs Elysees. Taking eight victories in one Tour would put Kittel on par with the record held by Charles Pelissier, Eddy Merckx and Freddy Maertens. Kittel has already caught and passed Erik Zabel and is now the most successful German rider at the Tour de France, but he avoided thinking so loftily.
"I'm very happy with five, my mentality hasn't changed," he argued. "Tomorrow (in the Pyrenees) won't be my day for sure and until the rest day on Monday, I'll just be surviving. I hope that after rest day we have another chance and then in Paris."
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