The big favourite lived up to expectations today in Belfast as Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) won the first sprint of this year's Giro d'Italia in convincing fashion. At the post-stage press conference, Kittel once again highlighted the importance of teamwork.

The Giro's first road stage was a wet affair as the riders had to contend with rain the whole day. Despite that, the race's Northern Irish start was a great experience for the stage winner: “The first thing that comes to mind when I think about today's stage is a lot of rain,” Kittel smiled. “The next thing is the amazing atmosphere. Even in the rain, there were so many people out there, many only in shorts and t-shirts, cheering us on.”

Not worried about the future

With sponsorship secured only for this season, Kittel's Giant-Shimano team faced an uncertain future. However, things like that don't run through the mind of the team's top rider: “It's true that the contract runs out at the end of the year,” Kittel admitted. “But a contract can be extended, and from what I hear from the team management, we're on a good way. So I don't worry about things like that at the moment.”

Kittel certainly seems to be the fastest sprinter at the moment, and that caused a question who he considered his main rivals. But the 25-year old wouldn't be drawn into making rankings of his sprint competitors: “That's your job really,” indicating the journalists. “But I know which riders we have to look out for. We all know the two main guys, Cavendish and Greipel. But Bouhanni and Viviani will also give us a lot of work here at the Giro. Finally, just because I may be the fastest now, it's important not to get arrogant. Winning the sprint is still a lot of hard work, even if you're the favourite.”

When prompted, the German commented on Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen as well, pointing out that the Norwegian was a different type of rider than himself and thus not a direct opponent in the mass sprints: “Edvald is not a pure sprinter. Of course, maybe he can attack in a difficult final, but I think at the moment we have others to concentrate on.”

No thoughts to the points jersey

Kittel's stage victory also brought him the lead in the Giro's points competition and the honour to wear the maglia rossa. Last year, Mark Cavendish won the red jersey, but Kittel made it clear that he doesn't give that any thought: “I've said at the pre-race press conference already that I won't think so far ahead right now. Things can happen very quickly, maybe the Giro ends the race for me. I'll just continue to take it day by day.”

And for now, the Giant-Shimano sprinter has only one thing on his mind: “Going for points jerseys is something for the future. At this point in my career I'm focusing on winning stages.”

With his Giro stage win, Kittel now joins the circle of riders to have won a stage in each of the three Grand Tours. But for him, another thing was just as important: “What's also great is that there are riders who have rode with me in all my GT stage victories, supported me and won the stages with me.”

A birthday present?

Sunday's 187-km stage from Armagh to Dublin will be another one for the sprinters. And with Kittel celebrating his birthday tomorrow, he wants to give himself a present: “It's all in our hands to get another win for my birthday,” said the German. “But it doesn't put me under extra pressure – we'll take the same approach to tomorrow's stage as we do to any other sprint.”