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Animal magic On the eve of his third , the explosive German fastman has come a long way from the sensitive, self-doubting under-23 that turned pro with Skil-Shimano in 2011. “Physically, he’s just an animal,” says former coach Merijn Zeeman

Words Sophie Smith Photos Richard Baybutt, Graham Watson 050 INTERVIEW 051

arcel Kittel is showing Drawing parallels with the game-changer Brabo, it’s an It’s an uncommon trait for a star competing in a demanding around his non-native Antwerp ad-hoc observation that insinuates the prolific , who sport where life can often be little more than cycling, and where we’ve come for an changed the status quo at the Tour de France last year, is transferring from one hotel to another with little awareness of interview and photo shoot. interested in more than just fast cars and bike races. Though, your surroundings is common. The chiselled German being German, he’s a Mercedes enthusiast. suggests going to look at a statue “Marcel is very smart,” says Giant-Shimano coach The man and the media away from the oddly bleak Rudi Kemna. Kittel uses a takeaway lid to scoop foam from a paper coffee surrounds of the grandiose central station, that is, as someone Kittel is, and not just by way of a killer instinct in furious cup as we speak in a hotel lobby the day after his historic toldM him, intrinsic to Antwerp’s origins. bunch sprints. He is eloquent in German and English, funny, treble. Ours is one of eight back-to-back feature “There were people coming to the city to trade here. I think diplomatic in front of the press, and savvy with social media interviews scheduled for that day and he sat for two the they had to pay a toll or something, and if they didn’t pay the — using it to portray a professional image as a driven sprinter, evening prior. Asking a question that hasn’t already been posed toll the giant would cut off their hand,” he tells us. “That’s why traveller, team-mate and eligible bachelor. to him is a bit of a challenge. it’s called Antwerpen because it comes from hand werpen, so The 26-year-old is a rare breed of sporting celebrity who “There are an increasing amount of people that want ‘throw your hand’.” makes a real distinction between his work and his private life. something from him,” says Kemna. “People request an The giant’s name was Antigoon and the Brabo Fountain In a post-race press conference at the Tour de France interview with him and it’s normal for him to say, ‘OK, when depicts the story, Kittel explains. Silvius Brabo refused to last year, a journalist asked if winning his third stage in a you want to do it?’ When he has enough time it’s no problem. pay Antigoon a toll, challenged him to a duel and won. straight-up against was a highlight However, when 10 people want interviews on one day then The fountain depicts Brabo throwing Antigoon’s severed of his life. His response was to say it was a highlight of his life you have a problem. It’s this kind of thing that has changed Above His how he wanted it to. I really tried to teach him that if one hand into the Scheldt. as an athlete. over the past two years. swift rise to training session is bad it doesn’t mean that you’re immediately “But the person is the same,” he continues. “He’s still the star-status bad for the whole period.” same team member.” means Kittel is Kittel joined Skil-Shimano apparently already familiar Kittel has a respectful demeanour and when asked if he can in demand with an autocratic coaching regime, which had to be changed. change out of Giant-Shimano team kit to casual gear for the Left “He was coming from the German system of training and photo shoot he’s happy to oblige. Celebrating then also with the way of coaching,” Zeeman says. “My style is “You’ve a choice between white, white and white,” he says, winning stage to do things together and he was used to a trainer who was going to the luggage room of the team hotel to pull out a Hugo two of this above the group. It was very difficult for him to adapt to that Boss T-shirt and a new coat. year’s Giro new system. I tried to work on his personality because he was Kittel’s answers are considered and succinct but the d’Italia really used to that style. The person is more important than the quadruple Tour de France stage winner uncharacteristically sportsman I always say.” stumbles on a question, eventually asking a team press officer Kittel arrived as a decorated junior and under-23 European sitting nearby for help, when asked of his intentions to finish the and German national time triallist before the team discovered Giro d’Italia that is part of a more hardy race programme. and developed his aptitude as a sprinter. The world is at the feet of this newly established sprint king “We talked with some people around him and they said who’s yet to publicly profess that moniker. However, he’s not sometimes he can’t finish the whole season, but he’s talented freely giving away any information that may be of interest to and a good time trial rider,” recalls Kemna. the competition in his run to the 101st Tour de France. “Then I met him and went, ‘Woah! Time trial rider?’” Former coach and scout Merijn Zeeman recalls a sensitive Kittel’s tall and athletic frame made a real impact. and self-doubting under-23 that turned professional with “We started working with him and discovered that he was Skil-Shimano, an incarnation of Giant-Shimano, in 2011. really powerful and far more than a time trial rider. He did a “He was actually pretty insecure,” says Zeeman, now few sprints, then we started working on his technique. A sprint director at Belkin. “He got out of balance very quickly during isn’t only how quick you are in the last 200 metres — a lot of training when he wasn’t feeling good or when it wasn’t going things lead up to that. We started working with that. He made a lot of mistakes, but you could see he had something, the talent was there, and he won quickly.” Zeeman sees now a more rounded racer to the one he used to have daily telephone conversations with. Kittel is still “The world is at the feet of this sensitive and team-mates say he can be hard to keep at ease in a competitive environment, though no petulant tantrums newly established sprint king pepper his frequently more flamboyant victory salutes. “Sometimes I’ll throw a bike [up in the air],” Kittel says, who’s yet to publicly profess referring to that Tirreno-Adriatico crash reaction in which he was denied the season’s first chance to sprint against both that moniker” Cavendish and André Greipel. “There’s a defeat that I can handle, like when I wasn’t strong enough. If I wasn’t strong enough, then I didn’t 052 INTERVIEW Marcel Kittel

Above deserve to win — someone else was better. and then it’s a question of how to handle it,” Zeeman says. Charging for “But then, there’s the real defeat when you make a mistake “I tried to teach him to find more balance in everything. the line and the or you didn’t give your best. That makes me very disappointed. When he had to stop the because he was win at the 2014 I need time for myself. Sometimes I just ride away for 10 sick, that kind of thing has a big impact on him and I really tried GP Scheldeprijs minutes and sit and calm down.” to teach him to accept that there are always the next moments Zeeman provided Kittel with insights into how to handle to focus on, and that it doesn’t help you to be really negative. disappointments by focusing on the perception of problems “I sent him on holiday and said come back and we’ll restart. and uses a 2012 Tour de France debut as an example. Both he He came back at the Eneco Tour and won the first stage, but he and Kemna are sure Kittel could have been dominant there was absolutely not in a good condition. When he is there, even had it not been for illness and a knee problem that saw him when he’s on 80 or 90 per cent, he can win. abandon on stage five. “There was a big difference by the time I left the team in “It’s going really well for him, but there will also be 2012,” Zeeman continues. “He was a mature guy and he really moments in his career where maybe disappointment comes in knew what he wanted and how he wanted to work with the team and what he expected from them. When I see him now I think he’s secure and really appreciates his life. “His strength is that he enjoys what he’s doing and he’s open for feedback so you can really coach him — he listens to what “Zeeman provided Kittel with you have to say and he’s willing to give an insight to his feeling and thoughts. And because he’s a sensitive guy, he sometimes insights into how to handle has some disappointments and I can’t say it’s a weakness, but they can knock you out of balance sometimes. If you learn how disappointments by focusing to handle that, you can also make it your strength.”

on the perception of problems” A determined rider Kittel has a distinctive facial expression when he’s acutely focused. It was evident at the Versailles start of last year’s 054 INTERVIEW Marcel Kittel 055

Breaking records Marcel Kittel doesn’t set out to break Kittel continued a consecutive records, but he marked one this year run in his May Giro d’Italia debut by becoming the first cyclist to win where he won two stages in his career the semi-Classic Scheldeprijs three fourth before withdrawing times consecutively. prior to day four of competition “It’s not that I started two years due to illness. In February he hit his ago with an idea in my head that I first target of the season claiming want to break the record in the three back-to-back stage wins in the Scheldeprijs,” he says. “It’s something Dubai Tour. that sort of happened the first time The Tour de France is Kittel’s and it was every year [after] the goal biggest goal of 2014 and it was there to win it. Even this year, it was really last year he added his name to a the intention to of course give our group of five riders who in the past 20 Above Kittel in Champs-Elysées finale, and a 2012 Tour spoiled by a stomach I’ve never seen since,” Zeeman recalls. is there, he doesn’t lose a lot of sprints. very best, and maybe also to use years have won four or more stages in Antwerp with complaint that his white kit didn’t make any more comfortable. “But becoming the fastest bike rider in the world wasn’t “For me, he’s by far the fastest man in the peloton now. If his that chance to go for the third win, a single edition of the race. Kittel Cycle Sport The strong-willed Kittel is a born sprinter in terms of what I was expecting to be honest. Nobody from the team was team lead him out in a decent way he can normally win every but if it doesn’t happen then it almost got the names of those in the Above right physicality and mentality, and doesn’t consider others in his expecting that. That was just a gift — a big gift.” bunch sprint.” doesn’t happen. club, in Mark Cavendish, Lance Pleased with estimations. The ‘it’ll be hard to beat Cav’ mental stopper has Those values remain in-house knowledge. Kittel kept “All I wanted to do was give my Armstrong, , Alessan- his win at the never been part of his vernacular, and the burly 189cm power output data private, citing the competition, after his Measuring the successes best and I knew that I had good legs, dro Petacchi and , right 2014 GP fast-man is the only rival Cavendish has not dared to taunt with stage-three Giro win this year where he made up some 10 Kittel’s inaugural Scheldeprijs triumph in 2012 confirmed to that the team was good and I think when CS enlightened him to the fact. Scheldeprijs derogatory fighting talk. lengths to level with rivals, whom had already opened their Kemna that he was the real deal, and the race is still a measure that’s what we did. We’ve earned that “Really? I don’t know. Cavendish His rookie transformation has continued to exceed the sprint, and take an exhaustive victory. for the triple winner. record now together with the win. for sure. Do you count ex-dopers?” he expectations of those who have helped develop his ongoing “Physically, he’s just an animal. He’s so strong and his “The Champs-Elysées is like Scheldeprijs. There’s actually “To keep on winning races — lightly considers. “Armstrong, maybe. progression as a sprinter. power around threshold is also really good,” Zeeman says. “I no excuse to be not there because it’s flat,” says Kittel. that’s my motivation. It’s simple but would have.” “I saw some results and when I saw his body — I was sure didn’t have a lot of finals when we had to race with him and he “I mean, it’s the last stage, but everyone is dead and there’s that’s enough.” Armstrong now doesn’t count. he must be a good guy for the final. He had peak values that wasn’t there. Normally he was always there and, yeah, when he a sprint for the win. 056 INTERVIEW Marcel Kittel 057

“I like the scene at the table so much, where Marcel says to Voted Sport1 Sportsman of the Year ahead of Sebastian Tom Veelers, ‘Maybe you should go to him.’ Johannes Vettel, a feat in itself given Germany’s national attitudes toward Fröhlinger, I think, was the guy who said, ‘I don’t understand cycling, Kittel is enjoying centre stage. what you’re saying,’ but it’s a very grown up way of dealing He’s been referred to in the same vein as Cavendish and with it, and I like that there was this leader in the team who Greipel ever since his mainstream breakthrough at the Tour tried that,” Roeleven says. last year, and all eyes will be on him at the Yorkshire Grand Kittel names Veelers as well as Albert Timmer as his Départ. His honest approach though hasn’t changed. closest mates within the outfit but then quickly counters, “Of course, more and more people are expecting you to “Actually that’s a mean question because I’ve got quite a lot of win races, but for me that’s external pressure,” says Kittel. mates. For me it’s always difficult to choose between them. “That’s something where I can either say they expect that “The biggest difference is in how we work as a team. I don’t from me, and it is like that and I have to put myself under really know a lot about how my rivals work and how they deal pressure now; or I can say that’s what they think then there’s with each other, because it’s internal,” he says. “I think our the reality. That’s what I think, what I want to do, what my goal approach is unique. We’re very close as a group and that is, and how I see things. makes it special for us as a lead-out team.” “I think that’s the most important thing for me, to only have a small circle of people — family, close friends and team- In it for the long game mates, of course — whose opinion is important and who I Kittel is just one example of how Giant-Shimano has found and want to share goals or ideas with and talk to. I think that’s also developed young talent into idols, as opposed to paying big how I can stay true to myself and who I really am. bucks for already established stars. “We don’t have to put ourselves under so much pressure “Reputation is good, I’ve a lot of respect for that, but it’s also that we have to go for a certain amount of wins or that the goal that you have,” Kemna says. “Do you want big names we have to defend our title as a sprint team,” he continues. in your team or do you want a team? “I think we just have to see that we have the same goal and “Roy Curvers is a big name for me. He’s not well known to that we can be sure that we’ll all work together for it. If we the outside world, but he’s a really important part of the team. have that mindset and that intention for the race, then I’m sure When you don’t have those kind of riders then you also don’t we’ll be successful.” have big names like Marcel Kittel. Marcel makes the sprint Kittel is fair to his two primary sprint rivals — Cavendish train better and the sprint train makes Marcel better.” and Greipel — and Kemna says they all spur each other on. “Of course, together with the fact that I’d no idea how it is Above Posing but he needed to learn how to handle all those things.” on the Champs-Elysées, that made me very excited and for selfies with Kittel’s professional maturity as a leader is a defining nervous as well. Probably that made me look very focused, and fans is all part observation that Nieuwe Helden director Dirk Jan Roeleven I was very focused.” of the job now highlights, having followed the squad through the 2013 Tour to Tour de France gift It’s intelligence that separates Kittel and the Giant-Shimano make his feature documentary. sprint team from the rest, according to Kemna. In the film Jan Roeleven captures a moment where Marcel Kittel strived to come up with something more original than a Rolex “I think we have a better sprint train than the rest of the Kittel, instead of rising to the ire caused by a crash involving as a thank you to the team that rode so successfully for him at the 100th sprint teams,” the Dutchman says with absolute certainty. chief pilot Tom Veelers and Cavendish, takes a measured Tour de France. “Every year I see their level is better, but also their knowledge. approach in front of the cameras as well as post-race in his Lucrative timepieces have been a popular gift from marquee sprinters When there’s a situation they always find a good solution and inner sanctum. Kittel is shown to garner his team-mates’ over the years but Kittel had thought outside the box when he presented his that’s not easy. That’s real experience and real communication. opinions and later shares with them that he addressed the Dutch and German team-mates with custom fixies at the April premiere of When you’re in a stressful situation you react, but if in that Manxman about the problem, before going on to win the Nieuwe Helden, or New Heroes, in Holland. situation you can still communicate with each other, then that’s following sprint stage. “It took a while until I had a good idea because I didn’t want to get them even better and they’re really good at that. just a watch or something,” Kittel says. “For me, it’s something which is not “For our sprint train, I don’t think it’s the legs that make personal. much difference, it’s the brains that make a difference and “So I finally had that idea with the fixies and I thought it’s actually a that’s a really important thing.” nice present because it’s personal, it’s something that you remember and “Kittel was an instant hit in the it’s still useful. A crucial part of the team “It took quite a while to go through the process from the draft to the real Kittel was an instant hit in the team Roy Curvers anchors and team Roy Curvers anchors bike and then I gave them to the riders at the premiere of our movie.” has proved to be a leader with a strong moral compass. Kittel undertook the project himself without the aid of the then team “He was immediately in the group,” Zeeman remembers. and has proved to be a leader bike sponsor Felt. Each black frame is decorated in yellow with the names of “That was different than with other neo-pros. He was the men that competed at the Tour, as well as details of each of the stages immediately in the team, but he wasn’t a leader. That came with a strong moral compass” Kittel won including the Grand Départ, which put him in the maillot jaune step by step, actually. We taught him how to work in a team. for a stint, and the coveted Champs-Elysées final. He has a great personality for that as he’s a really social guy, 058 INTERVIEW Marcel Kittel

Nieuwe Helden The Giant-Shimano team that German co-leader competed at the 100th Tour de France providing a raw opinion on the issue arrived to a celebrity-studded Dutch and the hurtful confessions of premiere of feature film Nieuwe Helden predecessors. It also captures diverse by police escort, after a live spot on personalities and how they handle the renowned national television highs and lows of the team’s third race programme De Wereld Draait Door. appearance, including reaction to the Riders ditched Lycra for fine controversial crash involving Tom Veel- matching suits at the first showing in ers and Mark Cavendish on stage 10. Utrecht, which will host the 2015 Grand Jan Roeleven also cut footage of Départ, and were joined by a cohort of Kittel’s close family at their home in celebrities, Netherlands political Germany as well as Degenkolb’s leaders and old Tour heroes, including second place on stage seven. 1954 stage winner Henk Faanhof. “John is my hero,” Jan Roeleven Nieuwe Helden director Dirk Jan says. “Many people, even male Roeleven condensed 100 hours of hetrosexuals, fell in love with John. footage into an 88-minute “What I liked so much about this documentary that provides a film is that you see a boy [Kittel] privileged insight into the inner winning the first stage and the first workings of the team as it embarks on yellow jersey in his life, still boyish and a campaign that sees Marcel Kittel win a bit naïve maybe. After three weeks, four stages and finish a Grand Tour for after winning four stages, and after all the first time. this media attention, all this Twitter Jan Roeleven and colleague Nando and all that comes to him [because Boers thought of the concept in 2009 he’s so good in that Tour de France], and planned to follow the then Pro you see him grow in that three weeks Continental team through the 2010 and that’s also what the film says. You Tour de France, but it didn’t get a see him at Mont Ventoux say, ‘I don’t In Antwerp, Kittel wildcard. The project was put aside want press anymore. I’m tired. reveals his respectful until 2012 when, by chance, Jan Scheissberg.’ You see him grow in this demeanour Roeleven came across an old email to Tour and it’s interesting.” general manager Iwan Spekenbrink Nieuwe Helden will be broadcast in and approached him again in the Holland on July 3 and is currently “I think we are all three very different characters and very turmoil of ’s doping available via wewantcinema.nl. It will different personalities,” Kittel says. confession. be released internationally on DVD “That is what makes it interesting for the fans, for the The documentary opens with during the Tour. spectators to see us doing the sprints against each other.” Kittel has hit his main targets for the season so far but hasn’t had an infallible lead-up to the Tour. He’ll no doubt enter alongside champion co-leader John Degenkolb, confident in his own abilities and that of the Giant-Shimano team. “To win alone in a big race is difficult, so you need each other,” says Kemna. “And yes, there is ego. We’re all guys! It’d be stupid if I said there wasn’t. But the difference is that [my team] are smart and know if you don’t look around and help each other then you don’t win.” Kittel’s leaving the world’s fastest sprinter title label to the press on the eve of a third Tour de France, while modestly deferring to a collective ‘we’ when asked to describe his edge over chief rivals. Another resounding Tour campaign may change that. But maybe you don’t need to brag when you know, deep down, just how good you are. “I don’t lose,” I offer in easy banter as we walk toward our shoot location. “Neither do I,” he says, looking across with a sure smile.