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Whilst the news comes as no surprise, I think Kittel's retirement is a tremendous loss for the sport.
I agree completely. He was a cross-over star--someone who was popular with cycling and non-cycling audiences alike. I suppose keeping up with road pro standards became harder for him sooner than for more slightly-built riders. I'm sure it's a sensible decision, but I'll miss him, too.
Oliver Schick
Whilst the news comes as no surprise, I think Kittel's retirement is a tremendous loss for the sport. In his heyday, he was virtually unbeatable in a flat sprint but his success never went to his (immaculately coiffured) head, rather he remained honest and open in his dealings with the media.
In a few years we'll look back on the period between 2008-2016 as a golden age for sprinting with three astonishingly consistent greats, who all had previously unseen longevity in terms of their period of success.