Sprint coach Marcel Kittel feels connection with Dylan Groenewegen: "This was missing in my life"

Former top sprinter helps current top sprinter with second sprint youth. That’s how you can sum up the story of Marcel Kittel, the brand-new coach of the Unibet Rose Rockets, and Dylan Groenewegen. A successful story, because after a difficult year, the Dutch speedster has already claimed four wins this season with his new team. A WorldTour victory in the Tour of Bruges is the current highlight. It’s high time to hear from Kittel himself.

At the end of 2019, Kittel, now 37, hung up his bike feeling somewhat burned out. With 14 stage wins in the Tour de France, 4 in the Giro d’Italia, and 5 triumphs in the Scheldeprijs, he ranks among the legends of sprinting. Afterwards, he seemed to disappear from the cycling world. You only saw him sporadically at races, and taking up a role with a team? That wasn’t something that immediately crossed the German’s mind.

“It was a conscious choice,” Kittel tells us now. “I wanted to step away from the sport for a while. I’d always said I wasn’t keen on working as a coach or team manager. My focus was on my family and enjoying life after my career. I needed some distance, I think, before I could consider another chance in racing. I was asked several times to return to certain teams, but at that time I was in a very different phase of my life.”

Even the Rockets got involved three years ago, back when Kittel joined them for the first time. Then still a continental team without star sprinter Groenewegen. “This was a better moment,” he says. “A lot has changed in the sport. There are many more experts now, and more science is involved. That brings interesting results: as a coach, you know more about the riders and can prepare them better. On the other hand, they still ride bikes with two wheels. And riders need to be ready not only physically but also mentally.”

Scope of work
That last aspect is where Kittel adds value. He has no background as a trainer and won’t be supporting riders in that capacity. “What I really enjoy is preparing for every sprint race, leading the meetings, keeping in touch with the riders, hearing about their problems, and finding out what I can do for them. That’s what I felt was missing before as an ex-rider who’s seen a lot in the cycling world.”

But at least as important: the chemistry with Groenewegen himself had to be there, of course. In the 2017 Tour de France, where Kittel won five stages, the Dutchman took his first of five career wins on the Champs-Elysées. Their connection goes way back, which was also a key factor for Kittel in taking the step. “His talent and speed have always been there. When you combine that with his mental strength and his new team, you have the formula that leads to success.”

“That’s the difference from last year for him,” Kittel says enthusiastically. That belief is important for the German. “Dylan’s motivation is very high. He’s still an absolute winner, and he wants it so badly. His ambition gives me ambition and energy as well.” But he also appreciates the whole team. “They started as a YouTube team. But you still feel they have a very different atmosphere and vibe than a typical pro team. They approach things differently than their rivals, and apparently, it works.”

Development
Kittel is joining a team that is still very much in development. Although they were able to race some nice events in their first year as a ProTeam, this season is when things really start to change – just look at that first big win in Bruges, and later also their first participation in the Giro d’Italia. “Since the end of last year, they’ve focused on the highest level. Taking this step demands the most attention from us as staff this year. But we’re doing really well.”

Groenewegen, who comes from Jayco AlUla, fully committed to the project and chose not to take the easy route. “You have to be open to it. It has to come from within, and that’s definitely the case with Dylan. He wants it so badly. He puts time and energy into the team every day and prepares well. Then the results come naturally. We can guide him well, but the good start and many victories still have to come from the riders themselves. All credit to them.”

How far will the Dutch sprinter go this year? “Let me put it this way: I’m sure that on a good day, Dylan can still beat everyone in the sprint. But there will be ups and downs. That’s the mindset we start from and how we set our goals.” The Giro d’Italia is the most important target. “In the meantime, it’s important to draw the right conclusions after every opportunity, whether it’s good or bad. We have to keep learning from every race to improve in our main goals,” concludes the German.