Kittel romps to stage six victory

MARCEL Kittel re-established his status as king of sprints by winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France yesterday.

It was his second stage win of this Tour and 11th in total, moving him level with German compatriot Andre Greipel, who was third on the stage behind Frenchman Arnaud Demare in second.

Kittel needs only one more stage win to equal the mark of 12 set by Erik Zabel, the most by a German.

“It’s a nice situation for me that I can say now that I’ve won 11 stages on the Tour, I’m very proud of that,” said the 29-yearold Quick-Step rider.

“I’m not really pushing myself for victories because I want to break the record of Erik Zabel, I just want to keep it coming, stay relaxed and get the best from myself and for the team in the sprints, and then see how far that can get me.”

Kittel had dominated the sprints in 2013 and 2014, winning four stages in each Tour, but was absent the next year when Greipel matched that single Tour feat.

Last year Mark Cavendish dominated with four stage wins but following this stage, Greipel said Kittel is the best in the business.

“Everyone knows that I have a lot of respect for Andre, he’s also a great sprinter and a very fair and nice rider. I really appreciate those words,” he said.

With Peter Sagan excluded form the Tour for elbowing Mark Cavendish in a muscular sprint finish on Tuesday, the race for the green jersey has come alive.

Demare, who almost came a cropper along the barriers down the inside of Alexander Kristoff in the sprint finish to the 216km stage from Vesoul to Troyes, acknowledged that Sagan’s absence changed things, but insisted he’d had a good chance of claiming the jersey anyway.

“Of course [it will be easier] but Sagan was already behind me when I took the jersey – it’s going to be a big fight,” he said.

Demare also claimed that jostling in the sprint finish was part and parcel of the game.

“People always rub shoulders in the sprint finish, it’s competitive. There are 10 or 15 people going for the stage victory,” insisted Demare.

“No one’s blameless, we’re all fighting for position. I came second but I went through a mouse hole – it wasn’t ideal.”

Race leader and reigning champion Chris Froome had a quiet day in the saddle, barring one bizarre moment when he and several other riders had to take evasive action to avoid a parasol that blew onto the road right in front of the peloton. — AFP