Claiming 14 stage wins in 2014, Marcel Kittel wasn’t the most successful sprinter of the year when it comes to pure numbers. Quality of his victories, however, tell an entirely different story as the 26-year old German was the one who wore the yellow jersey and triumphed on Champes Elysees for a second consecutive season.

In addition to that, Kittel seemed absolutely unattainable to all other sprinters in the 2014 Giro d’Italia, including very fast Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ), before an illness forced him out of competition following the Irish grande partenza. All together, the Giant-Shimano rider amazed the world of cycling with his breakthrough appearance at the 100th edition of the Tour de France and lived up to all expectations this season, proving that he hasn’t been just a one-year wonder.

Rather unsurprisingly, the 26-year old German admitted to be pleased with his season and revealed that a cooperation with his Giant-Shimano lead-out train was going better than ever.

“I am very happy with this season,” Kittel told VeloNews. “There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders, but the team supported me 100 percent. We are working together better than ever. We understand each other. We are more motivated than ever to do the sprints.”

Kittel’s words were confirmed by his arguably most valuable lead-out man, John Degenkolb, who himself is qualified enough to target Tour stages and play prominent role in most of the WorldTour outfits, but settles for sharing leadership in sprints with his fellow countryman.

“I know this year he was even stronger than last year. Even in the Giro, when Marcel was there, [FDJ's Nacer] Bouhanni was there, you have your answer. Marcel is way better than everyone,” Degenkolb said. “No one expected him to win four stages last year in the Tour. When you get the first kick and you have the first win, it gets easier. You have the confidence, and things go smooth.”

Degenkolb, who appears to be a tailor made material for targeting the green jersey at the Tour, claimed that Kittel climbs better that he is given credits for and thus he will also go for points classification in the future, once the route is favourable enough. This obviously means that the 26-year old German will be forced to give up on his personal ambitions in this regards as long as they’re riding in the same outfit, what he has already stated in another interview several weeks ago.

“Marcel was good on the climbs this year. He never had problems to make the time cuts,” Degenkolb continued. “It depends how [many] pure sprints there are, he needs a Tour that suits him, with many flat stages. If there are too many hilly stages, it’s harder for him, but that’s better for me.”

Meanwhile, the blonde German admitted that not only the green jersey but the most coveted rainbow one will be his target for the future and the 2016 edition of the World Championships held in Qatar appears to be a good shot for him.

“In the future, I would really like to make the worlds a goal for me,” Kittel said. “Copenhagen was good [Kittel was 176th in 2011], to get a bit of experience in my career. But since then, there have not been any courses that are good for me. I think in the coming years we might have some worlds that will be good for me. Maybe Qatar. And not just me, but my teammate John Degenkolb, he will be world champion one day I am sure.”

Before it happens, though, Kittel heads on a beach to switch off and forget that he has even ridden a bike. At leas for few weeks.

“I will not touch my bike for at least three weeks. I will be somewhere on the beach,” Kittel revealed. “Your body needs a break, but also your mind. You need to think about something else other than bike racing. I will go somewhere in Asia.”