Cycling: Marcel Kittel (Etixx – Quick-Step) did not compete in the time trial of the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia today. As his team Etixx - Quick-Step announced in the morning, the 28-year-old says goodbye to the Tour of Italy after his two stage wins.
Somewhat surprisingly, it was announced this morning that Marcel Kittel, after his two stage wins and one day in the maglia rosa, will not be taking part in the time trial on the ninth stage of the Giro. It is less surprising that Kittel dropped out before the finish in Turin - many had already expected this, especially since the 28-year-old has high hopes for the world title in Doha in October - but one had expected that Kittel would be in the race a little longer would stay. After all, two sprint stages are still waiting next week and the German still had every chance in the fight and the maglia rossa.
"I'm sad to be leaving the Giro but I feel like I need to recover after a long first part of the season" Kittel comments on the decision himself. The fact mentioned that the top German sprinter will compete at the World Cup with great ambitions and possibly also the difficult last season, when Kittel just couldn't get going, certainly played a role. It is quite conceivable that he does not want to subject his body to such extreme stress. Nevertheless, some question marks remain, after all, there is still a long way to go before the World Cup and, as mentioned, Kittel still had chances of winning the day and even in the points classification.
The Giro d'Italia is currently running over 40km long time trial in the Chianti region. it is to be expected that today's result will change the overall standings.
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