This was confirmed by Alpecin company spokesman Marcel Klöpping and team manager Iwan Spekenbrink. The relationship between the two parties had obviously broken down after Kittel was not nominated for the Tour de France in July. Spekenbrink, however, had a different interpretation of the change. "Marcel wanted a fresh start after the failed season. We agreed to this and released him from his contract - that was also a kind of thank you to him. Only then did he look for a new team," explained the Gaint-Alpecin team boss. That is why no transfer payments were due.
Kittel obviously saw himself as a bit of an outsider in the team's reorientation. The Giant-Alpecin team, which rides under a German licence, wants to concentrate on the overall classification with Dutchman Tom Dumoulin in major tours in the future. To this end, John Degenkolb is to win one-day classics in the spring and go on the hunt for stage wins at the Tour.
It is not yet clear where Kittel will move to. However, a transfer to the Belgian team Etixx-Quick Step, where Tony Martin also rides, is likely. The money for Kittel, who won four Tour stages in both 2013 and 2014, would certainly be available at Etixx after the British former world champion and big earner Mark Cavendish left the team.
In mid-February, Kittel had contracted a protracted viral illness, which had cancelled his entire season. His team management decided that he was out of shape for the Tour and did not take him to the season's highlight in the Netherlands and France. The Thuringian described his withdrawal from the Tour as "by far the most difficult phase of my career".
The blonde rider only recorded one victory listed by the UCI in 2015. Kittel won one stage of the Tour of Poland.
"After a last setback, when I had to finish races prematurely again, I realised that I needed a fresh start after this difficult year. When I informed the team of my wish, I knew that it was unusual to terminate my contract early," the team quoted Kittel, who thanked his employer for being so accommodating. "I expect to find a suitable team," he continued.
