statement on my future
On my request Team Katusha-Alpecin and I mutually decided to an early termination of my current contract.
It was for me a long decision process where I raised a lot of question about how and where I want to go as a person and athlete and what is really important to me. I love cycling and my passion for this beautiful sport is never gone but I also know what it requires from me and what I need to be successful. I believe that everyone has his strengths and weaknesses and that it is an ongoing process to deal with them within a team to be strong and successful. In the last two months I have had the feeling of being exhausted. At this moment, I am not able to train and race at the highest level. For this reason, I have decided to take a break and time for myself, think about my goals and make a plan for my future.
At this point I´d like to thank the team for the last 1,5 years and their support. Especially I´d like to thank the team staff. From the bottom of my heart I can say that they are the best and hardest working people that I´ve ever seen. I´m sorry that I couldn´t fuel your passion with more wins and results. I´d like to thank the sponsors and partners as well that keep believing in the team with their support and knowledge.
I´ve taken this decision based on my experience that changes lead you to new paths and opportunities. Despite all the insecurities I´ve got confidence that I ultimately will find new chances and challenges. From now on I will put my happiness and joy above everything and seek ways to find this also in my future. I´m very excited about what is going to come. I would like to ride and race again in the future and I have to work out a plan to be able to reach this goal.
This is the biggest challenge of my career and I´m accepting it.
Photo: Stefan Rachow @mr.pinko
Further News
Thoughts about Erfurt
I have been home at Lake Constance since Sunday and after landing, I got this message: "Supposedly another one is coming out.Tomorrow.	[more]
First race after the Tour in Thüringen
Hi dear fans, after my unlucky exit from the Tour, I have trained a lot in the last days and have been able to distract myself a bit.	[more]
Third in the Tour opener
Unfortunately it wasn't enough today for the win. But I a very satisfied with third place, because I feel very well, the legs are strong and I am in Tour modus.	[more]
Finally Tour time
I am full in the Tour mood. The presentation yesterday was great. It feels good to pick up the fans' enthusiasm.	[more]
Pre-Tour anticipation and concentration
Of course I would have loved to go to the Tour with the national champion's jersey. And yes, of course I am disappointed that it didn't work out.	[more]
No start in Gent-Wevelgem
Actually, I wanted to start in Gent-Wevelgem tomorrow. But together with the team, I have changed the plan.	[more]
Lessons from the Milan-Sanremo premiere
Phew. At the end my lights just went totally out. On the Cipressa I totally fell apart. My oven was totally out.	[more]
Second win in Tirreno
What a team performance! Our plan worked out perfectly. We wanted to control the race from the very start, let a small group go and then set up the optimal sprint.	[more]
At last, no longer a rookie in Italy
Phew. A very large load fell away from me today. At last! The first win this year. A journalist told me today that it had been eight months since the last time I won.	[more]
Thüringer male athlete of the year and donations
After a real travel marathon, I am finally getting into the Christmas mood.	[more]
Days of uncertainty for cycling
I must admit that I was shocked when I heard the news about Chris Froome's suspicious doping control. You all probably felt the same way that Tony and I did.	[more]
Training camp and votes for Athlete of the Year
I have been back in training for about a month now and today finally put in the first kilometers with my new team.	[more]
Tour 2018 presentation
Of course I am happy that the Tour de France 2018 starts with a flat stage. I expect a spectacular sprint.	[more]
Four people on the line
What a photo finish – four people on the line. I have never been part of that before. Unfortunately I came from behind a fraction of a second too late.	[more]
Münsterland Giro
I will wear the Quick-Step colors tomorrow at the Münsterland Giro for the last time – and I am really looking forward to this race.	[more]
Preparing for the final highlights
After the Cyclassics and the Sport Bild Award in Hamburg, where I was honoured, I am again at home. Unfortunately things in Hamburg did not go as I had wanted.	[more]
There is news
After two years I will leave my current team Quick-Step Floors and as of 2018 I will ride for Katusha-Alpecin.	[more]
The legs are good, the form is right too – but I still need a little something to come mentally back into the form I need to go all out in these top-class sprints.	[more]
Leaving the Tour, but the five wins remain
Now it is over. Unfortunately I won't make it to Paris this year. The crash today was the knock-out punch.	[more]
Working on Mission Green
Rest day at last! After my fifth stage win at this year's Tour, we sprinters have had to survive some hard days until tomorrow's rest day.	[more]
Four stage wins at the halfway mark and the German record
It is simply unbelievable, to have already won four stages. With 1775 kilometers we are only halfway through the Tour 2017. When it goes good, it goes good.	[more]
Starting with mourning armband
Today a great cycling trainer, companion and friend died. That is why I started today wearing a mourning armband.	[more]
Winning by six millimeters
The finish line surprised me today. It came earlier than I thought it would. I had to give my all and think that I now have longer arms than before.	[more]
Second stage win at the Tour 2017
Yeah! Second win at the Tour. That was my kind of sprint. Thanks to the team. The guys gave everything for me and brought me to the front perfectly in a hectic finale.	[more]
An emotional win
I am super proud of this stage win. Being able to give the fans a German victory at the Grand Depart in Germany is an indescribable feeling.	[more]
Ninth in the prologue
My ears still hurt from the noise along the course. It was totally crazy, how many people were out there despite the awful weather.	[more]
Go to the Tour
After the German championship in chemnitz, I once again went through blown in the home before going to düsseldorf. I'm so glad it's finally going off.	[more]
A chain problem in the finale
About 200 meters before the finish line a speed bump stopped me in the finale – well actually, it was my chain.	[more]
Altitude training in Colorado
After my return to racing in the Tour of California, I am now in Colorado for an altitude training camp to get the last bit for the Tour.	[more]
Winning at home
Fifth win in the Scheldeprijs! By now it feels like my home race. I could win today thanks to great teamwork – and it was a very special win. It was Tom's farewell appearance in Belgium.	[more]
Victory at the Three Days of de Panne
Crash, chasing back, win. What a finale in the next-to-last stage of the Three Days of de Panne! Crashing 15 km before the finish is really a bad idea.	[more]
Training in the sun and "Biking for PSP"
Greetings from sunny Spain. I have fled from the weather at home and am now putting in my kilometers in Spain, where I am preparing for the upcoming races.	[more]
In the wind too soon
Today I absolutely wanted to win, but in the end I was really surprised by the wind and was up front too early. One more man would have been better, or I could have taken the risk and jumped forward from rear wheel to rear wheel with Saba.	[more]
Yesterday a crash, today a victory
I am overjoyed that after yesterday's setback, I could win the second stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour.	[more]
Back in the desert
This will really be a meeting of the sprinters. And from the GC riders, only Christopher Froome is missing, otherwise we would have the perfect line-up like at a Grand Tour.	[more]
Overall title in Dubai
Three wins, the overall title and my eighth win ever here in Dubai. This season start gives me a lot of self-confidence. The team was great.	[more]
A shame for our sport
Today I thought I was in the wrong sport. Not cycling but martial arts.	[more]
Second win in second race
Second win in second race, and my seventh overall here in Dubai. I am super happy with this win today, even if it didn't come about as perfectly as yesterday.	[more]
First race, first win
Yeah! First race, first win. This morning after I got up and had put in a few meters on the bike, I knew that my legs were good. In the race itself there was no situation which we didn't have under control.	[more]
Starting training in Calpe
I hope you have all started the New Year well and are back into things. I am. I have been with the team for several days in Calpe, where we ride our first "races" ;-)	[more]
Contact Marcel Kittel:
TeamSpirit GmbH
Riethstraße 29a
Telefax: +49 361 731 887 570
Website: www.teamspirit-scg.com
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