Kittel sprints ahead to claim fourth stage win

MARCEL Kittel was unbeatable in yesterday’s sprint finish at the Tour de France, according to the man who took second place.

The burly German cantered to a fourth stage win of the Tour at the end of yesterday’s 178km 10th stage from Perigueux to Bergerac, as Chris Froome retained his overall lead.

Kittel’s compatriot John Degenkolb took second, ahead of Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen in third, and then admitted that it wasn’t possible to beat his countryman.

“When I was going in the last kilometre, I thought the sprint was already over, but then a miracle happened and Marcel overtook me!” Degenkolb said ironically.

“I did a full sprint to stay on his slipstream and that took me to second place. Today he was unbeatable, that’s for sure.”

The 29-year-old Kittel was imperious, winning easily as he accelerated from six bodies back to streak several bike lengths clear.

“It’s true, it’s amazing, I can’t even tell you how proud I am,” said the Quick-Step sprinter.

“It’s a fourth stage win in 10 days. That’s a great achievement for me and the team.”

It was the manner of Kittel’s victory that was most impressive as he even had time to raise his arms in celebration before crossing the line.

It means he is well set to make this his best Tour yet as he has already matched his previous top effort – four stage wins in both 2013 and 2014 – less than half the way through this year’s race.

Kittel has won four of the five flat sprint finishes at the Tour this year, and in the only one he didn’t claim, he was held up by a crash in the final kilometre. A tilt at the record of eight stage wins from a single Tour has now become a viable possibility, but he isn’t thinking about such issues.

Kittel also broke the record for stage wins by a German, moving one clear of the 12-mark he had shared with Erik Zabel following his stage victory on Friday.

And he stretched his lead in the green jersey competition to more than 100 points over Australian Michael Matthews, increasing the possibility of Kittel holding it all the way to Paris – although he has a fair way to go to match Zabel’s record of six wins in that category.

For Briton Froome, the reigning champion, and the other overall contenders it was a quiet day in the saddle.

Froome kept hold of the race leader’s yellow jersey with an 18-second advantage to Italy’s Fabio Aru.

France’s Romain Bardet is 51sec. — AFP third at