Marcel Kittel has welcomed the surprising news that Mark Cavendish has signed with his former team, Detunink-Quick Step. Kittel believes the move "closes the loop" and provides the best place for his former sprint rival to finally end his career.

Cavendish was out of contract at the end of the year after a subdued season with Bahrain McLaren, failing to win a single race. When Bahrain McLaren decided not to offer him a contract, retirement seemed a real possibility, but the team, led by Patrick Lefebvre, reunited the Belgian team manager with the rider who won 44 races during his three years with the team from 2013 to 2015 The decision was made to make a move that would fulfill.

Kittel started the 2016 campaign with Quick Step as Cavendish's replacement, and while the two were sprint rivals on the bike, they were good friends outside of racing, and their relationship was fueled by respect for each other's achievements.

Their battles in the Tour de France produced some of the most memorable sprint battles in history, with Cavendish winning four stages and Kittel one in 2016, but the Germans dominated the 2013, 2014, and 2017 Tour Showed.

Kittel will retire midway through the 2019 season after spending a year and a half with Katusha-Alpecin, while Cavendish is coming back from the Epstein-Barr virus that plagued his career for two seasons.

Now 35 years old, Cavendish remains eager to continue his career despite seemingly limited options, and a return to Detunink-Quickstep seems to suit both team and rider.

"I think it's great that Cav is returning to Quick Step and closing the circle by rejoining Wolfpack," Kittel told Cycling News shortly after the announcement.

"I know from my own experience that Quick Step is a great and special team. I am happy to have this opportunity and I know it will be a great support for me in the new season. I also believe that if Cav decides to end his career, this is the best place for him. I wish him and the team all the best."

There are obvious questions about whether Cavendish can return to the kind of form that saw him win an astounding 30 Tour de France races during his career. He has not won an individual road race since his stage win at the 2018 Dubai Tour, and his reunion with Rod Ellingworth, albeit interrupted by the COVID-19 epidemic, was not the fairy-tale comeback that both men had hoped for.

But Lefebvre's team offers Cavendish many possibilities. With Sam Bennett joining the team, they already have the top two sprinters in the world, but Fabio Jacobsen is still recovering from his horrific crash at the Tour de Pollogne and may have a sprint role for Cavendish.

Deceuninck-QuickStep has proven over the years that it can build a leadout for several sprinters at once, but if Cavendish becomes road captain and voice of experience for the team's younger riders, he and Lefebvre could work to their advantage.

For Kittel, the slice of experience may be essential not only for sprinters and lead-out riders, but also for one-day and Grand Tour riders like Julien Alaphilippe.

"In Cav's case, 'adding experience' is more than just a word, I think it can really help a team leader. Kav won the green jersey and became a world champion. That experience is very valuable and something I can share with Julien and Sam," said Kittel. We have to defend the jersey, especially next season. I think this will be a very valuable asset for the Wolfpack."