On the program for this Sunday is the 20th edition of the Vattenfall Cyclassics, a 221.3km race that starts in Kiel and finishes in Hamburg. Following John Degenkolb’s (GER) win in 2013 and Marcel Kittel’s (GER) sixth place in the 2014 edition, Team Giant-Alpecin is bringing a strong lineup to the German one-day race. The team does not lack fast men, as Nikias Arndt (GER), Kittel and Ramon Sinkeldam (NED) will all be taking the start on Sunday. 

Kittel showed his sprint form again last week to take his first victory of the season at the Tour de Pologne, while Arndt is coming off the Eneco Tour, where he raced consistently and finished all seven stages in the top 30. Sinkeldam competed in the Arctic Race of Norway last week.

The team will be working for a bunch sprint finish and is bringing strong lead-out riders Bert De Backer (BEL), Chad Haga (USA), Tobias Ludvigsson (SWE) and captain Roy Curvers (NED).

“Our goal at the Vattenfall Cyclassics is to go for the sprint win with Marcel. We have a strong team to help ensure a bunch sprint and to aim for the victory,” explained coach Rudi Kemna.

“The course is a little bit different than in recent years, and with a strong Simon Geschke we also have the opportunity to counter a late breakaway, as our goal is to sprint in Hamburg.”