Marcel Kittel believes it is obvious that Fernando Gaviria is on his way to the top of the sport but insists that, as his teammate becomes perhaps his biggest rival, he is focused on himself and getting things off the ground at Katusha-Alpecin.
Kittel has made no secret that the rise of Gaviria is the principal reason for his departure from Quick-Step. Under any normal circumstances, five stage wins at the Tour de France would guarantee you a place on the start line next year, but the precocious Colombian won four times at the Giro d’Italia on his Grand Tour debut this year, and he and the team are keen to get the ball rolling in France in 2018.
“It’s logical he wants to go to the Tour, and also logical that there would be a conflict,” Kittel said in Shanghai at the recent ASO criteriums. “It’s really nothing personal. That’s very important to say. I have nothing against Fernando, he’s a great talent, and an amazing, incredible sprinter. That’s it.
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“Personally, I never really got a lot of time to spend with him. We’ve always had separate race programmes, so we only saw each other maybe on training camp for a few days, and also because he also travels a lot between Colombia and Europe, so there’s not so much time you can spend with each other, that’s it.
Kittel is in no doubt about the talent and potential of Gaviria, nor is he too proud to declare it publicly.
“He’s a very big talent. When you are able to contest bunch sprint in Milan-San Remo in your first attempt, it’s quite a big achievement already," he said. "Then the direction where he goes…but on the other hand, you don’t have to be a cycling expert to see his talent and where it will go to. I think his way is pretty clear.
2018
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