Marcel Kittel returned to racing with a bang today, winning the opening stage of the Tour of Poland and assuming the race lead in doing so.

Team Giant-Alpecin rode the race to plan, helping to set up the stage for a bunch sprint, with the final breakaway coming back with around 10km to race.

Kittel was set up perfectly by his teammates as the race headed into the tight right hand corner in the final few hundred metres. He kept his cool and took the inside line to come through in front and finish off the job perfectly.

The win marks a successful return to racing after having to miss the Tour de France following illness and injury earlier in the season.

“We rode the final corner in the neutral and at first I thought it was going to be difficult but after we passed through it a few times during the race I got a better feeling,” said Kittel after finishing his podium duties.

"It was a tricky final so it was necessary to be in front with the whole team and we managed this in a good way. The boys were fighting hard for me and brought me into a good position, and although it wasn’t easy to stay together we didn’t lose faith.

“It’s a very important win for me and it’s too long since I last had this feeling. I had to fight back and I am happy that I never gave up and can now be racing for victory again. It’s a race I’ve been looking forward to, and with two more days of possible sprints we can look forward to racing hard.”

“The scenario was perfect for us with the breakaway that was in front and we were able to control the whole race and keep to our plan of setting up a sprint for Marcel,” explained coach Addy Engels following the stage.

“Our target was to be in front at the corner with two kilometres to go as after this point the hill and corners would make it difficult to move up and be in control. This worked well and from here we took the lead. The guys stayed calm and in control to set up the lead-out and Marcel was able to come to the front in the final corner to take the win.

“It was a great display of teamwork, fundamental for the win today, and it’s good to see Marcel back winning again and it will be a boost to his confidence for the targets we have coming up over the next months.”