Kittel extends with Argos through 2016
German sprint ace extends for three years with Argos
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Marcel Kittel has extended his contract with Argos-Shimano through 2016, according to a report from Dutch newspaper de Gelderlander. The German sprinter on Sunday won his fourth stage of the 2013 Tour de France, in Paris.
According to the report, Kittel confirmed the extension on Monday at the Ronde van Boxmeer in the Netherlands, saying, “For me there is only one team.”
Since signing with Argos (then 1t4i) in 2012, Kittel has emerged as a leader in the team. The German cemented his status among the sport’s top sprinters in France, winning stage 1 at the Tour and wearing the yellow jersey for a day, before becoming the race’s most prolific winner in its 100th edition.
Kittel said he felt like a “bit of a Dutch hero,” returning to his team’s home country for the post-Tour event, though he said he expected to share the spotlight with Dutch riders Bauke Mollema and Laurens Ten Dam (Belkin), who ignited the Netherlands with their run at the Tour podium.
Argos management has not confirmed the contract extension and details of the deal are not known. Cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, requires teams to wait until August 1 to announce transfers, though they may announce contract extensions earlier.