Marcel Kittel had a great opportunity to take his first big classics victory in the bunch sprint of today's Vattenfall Cyclassics. However, the Giant-Shimano team had burnt their matches too early and an isolated Kittel faild to find a good position for the sprint.

Marcel Kittel has sprinted to sixth place at the end of a tough Vattenfall Cyclassics in Germany. The race came to life in the final 30km after the day’s break was caught, sparking attacks from the peloton. The race eventually come back together for a bunch sprint in the final few kilometres with Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) proving fastest to the line.

Three riders animated a large part of the race, spending most of the day out front but their efforts were futile and with just under 30km to go the catch was made.

The team were already one rider short after Tom Stamsnijder withdrew after 100km due to stomach problems. Albert Timmer spent over 200km riding at the head of the peloton controlling the break’s advantage and as the race hit crunch time the team were looking in a strong position.

Tom Veelers lost ground due to a puncture while Roy Curvers got caught out on the wrong side of the gap when the bunch split on one of the climbs.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg moved to the fore to cover attacks in the closing kilometres and into the final three kilometres the race was all together led by the sprinters team.

Kittwl was isolated and the riders left from the team at the front struggled to find each other. Luka Mezgec managed to pull him to the first ten wheels in the line-up with 500m to go and from there Kittel fought hard to move up, eventually taking sixth.

“It was a good performance by the team until the final where the guys lost each other,” said coach Marc Reef. “Albert did a big job on the front for nearly 215km, while everyone was in a good position the penultimate time up the Waseberg where Roy did a good job keeping the team in position.

“We took the lead which might not have been the best decision in the final as after they couldn’t find each other. Luka brought Marcel up with a last minute move at 500m to go and Marcel came through for sixth.”

Kittel added: “I felt really good today so it’s a pity I couldn’t make the most of this, especially as it is the only time in the year when I race in Germany.

“Everyone tried their best today but it didn’t work out at the end. We had some trouble losing guys before the end and so there were less of us to prepare the sprint.”