Marcel Kittel was one of the great sprinters of his generation. He dominated the big sprints of the 2010s, won 14 stages in the Tour de France and became a reference in world cycling before retiring young. He has recently shared his opinion on doping and how it's changed and hasn't changed since the Lance Armstrong years.
In an interview with Domestique, Kittel doesn't shy away from talking about doping. He reflects on the past and present of cycling and recognizes both the progress made and the risks that remain in a very controversial subject. The German no doubt gives his opinion on the subject and we warn that it is not very positive about whether or not there is doping in cycling today:
"When I turned pro, all those revelations about doping had already been made and everyone knew about widespread systematic doping in teams, especially in the 1990s and 2000s," he said. "There were already a lot of disappointed fans yelling at us, spitting at us. And I was there as a young cyclist thinking: what's going on, what's this got to do with me?"
And this is a permanent scar the sport will carry, as its reputation was tarnished. "I think it wasn't a black eye. I think it actually took a leg off the body of cycling...because it will never go away. It will always be there as a theme. I absolutely believe this was necessary. It gave the opportunity to talk about the issue and really analyze where it was coming from."
"I don't think cycling is clean now. Absolutely not. I would be very ignorant about the facts," the German warns. "There will always be people who will try to cheat the system. We have to make sure we protect what we have and the progress we've made, and make sure these are isolated cases and not a widespread doping system."
Also because at the end of the day cycling is a business, and there is money involved. Above that, there is more money for secondary characters and people looking to benefit from athlete's will to take prohibited substances, which created a cycle that many harm the sport.
"Look at the budgets, how they've increased, the salaries that brokers can earn. There are racers who see an opportunity and also see an opportunity not to cheat someone, but to end up with a better life. And I think that's also a fact. Probably, in the first instance, it's a very human thing."
And at the end of the day, it is valid to criticize: "Journalists and fans are absolutely entitled to say if they feel they are not sure they can trust it. Then we should see this as a signal to check and make sure that the result is really valid and that we can trust it."
The Tour de France is faster than ever, for several reasons. But there is room for suspicions. @Imago
But where is the line drawn between what is unnaturally enhanced and the natural. It is undeniable that the evolution of cycling in terms of technology, aerodynamics and innovations in nutrition is leading to better performances by a large margin than last decade.
But it is not always easy to understand which is which. "I feel like this is very exceptional. But we also underestimate sometimes where it comes from. People do amazing things on the bike. Because the periodization of the training, the planning of the schedule, everything around it, the innovation...it all fits just that day."
"Ups and downs are not a bad thing. They can be a good thing. They have everything perfectly timed for that moment and are world class and even above. We could be less strict at times and there should also be a time to celebrate talent. But let's not be naïve."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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