Marcel Kittel was interviewed by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine over the weekend and has spoken of his concern for the image of cycling that former riders with a doping past are still active as team bosses.
The German sprinter on the Giant Shimano team mentioned the involvement of Alexandre Vinokourov with Astana and Tinkoff-Saxo manager Bjarne Riis.
“People like Vinokourov and Riis have a history and attract attention especially in Germany again and again towards doping,” Kittel said. “They ensure that cycling is constantly under suspicion.”
Kittel has been one of just a handful of riders in the professional peloton who has spoken out about the recent UCI decision to grant the Astana team a World Tour licence.
