German Kittel joins Etixx-Quick Step (Reuters)

German sprinter Marcel Kittel is joining the Belgian team Etixx-Quick Step for the 2016 and 2017 seasons after being released from his Giant-Alpecin contract. “We are thrilled about the arrival of Marcel,” team manager Patrick Lefevere said in a statement on Monday. As a team we will do our best to put him in the right condition, building a group of riders around him.” Kittel’s move was made possible after another top sprinter, Mark Cavendish of Britain, left to join African team MTN-Qhubeka who will be renamed Dimension Data next season.