Marcel Kittel was present at the presentation of the course for the 2014 Tour de France earlier today and the German liked what he saw. With first stage offering an opportunity for the sprinters, the quadruple stage winner is intent on repeating this year's stint in the yellow jersey.

Marcel Kittel emerged as the fastest sprinter in the world in this year's Tour de France when he won four stages and beat riders like Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel several times. Among the two victories, two had significant importance as he won the opening stage on Corsica to take the yellow jersey and the final stage on the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Having already set his sights on a repeat of this year's feat, Kittel was present at today's presentation of the course for the 2014 edition of the race in the Palais des Congres in Paris. As it was the case in 2013, next year's edition of the race will kick off with a flat stage that offers Kittel an opportunity to reacquaint himself with the yellow jersey. In general, the first weeks is tailor-made for the fast finishers and will offer Kittel numerous chances to excel.

Unsurprisingly, he was pleased with the layout of the first week.

"The opening stage presents another opportunity to get the yellow jersey which is really nice and a huge motivation," he said. "It is an interesting first week, a good one for the sprinters. The fifth stage will also prove very interesting, with the cobbles bringing a nice change to the normality of a Grand Tour. It will be both nervous and exciting."

“Hopefully we can make a nice start to the Tour again like this year," he added. "Thinking about it now, I am already motivated and excited for the first stage. However, looking at the second half of the race, that is where the real challenge of surviving lies."

Argos-Shimano is mostly known as a team of sprinters with Kittel and John Degenkolb being the major stars. Hence, the flat stages had gained most attention from manager Iwan Spekenbrink but he also pointed out that the team had riders who can excel on the tougher stages. This year, talented French climber Warren Barguil won two stages in the Vuelta a Espana and could make his debut in the French grand tour next year.

“It looks to be a very diverse Tour de France with stages for all kind of riders," he said. The number of summit finishes will make it a true spectacle and a tough route too."
 
"There are many opportunities for our team with several sprint stages and the hillier stages where one of our attacking riders or one of our sprinters who can handle the hills can go for the win. I am really looking forward to next year and hopefully we can show our sprint train again; the first opportunity being the opening stage, once again a battle for yellow.”

This year Argos-Shimano won stages in all three grand tours.