People's Choice Classic winner Marcel Kittel's thoughts with bushfire victims before 2014 Santos Tour Down Under

PEOPLE'S Choice Classic winner Marcel Kittel knows the next chance for pure sprinters might not come until Victor Harbor on Friday.

German rider Marcel Kittel, relaxing at the Hilton after winning the People's Choice Classice. Picture: ...

GERMAN ace Marcel Kittel was enjoying his People's Choice Classic victory on Monday, knowing the next chance for pure sprinters might not come until Victor Harbor on Friday.

The Giant-Shimano rider - who won four stages of last year's Tour de France - is preparing for three tough days with the Santos Tour Down Under peloton to tackle Menglers Hill on Tuesday, a hilly Stirling circuit on Wednesday and Corkscrew Road on Thursday.

"I think the next real opportunity is Victor Harbor and the last stage criterium, it's a different lap but it should be all right," Kittel said.

"We have a very strong team especially for the more difficult stages and I hope we can do well there."

Kittel said his thoughts were with people affected by the Barossa Valley bushfire as the peloton prepares to ride through the region for Stage 1 today.

"If you suddenly lose everything that you've owned before because of a bushfire or any catastrophe, then everything else should always come second," he said.

"I still have the same opinion if it's not safe for us then we should not risk our lives and also not disturb the work of the firefighters and people fighting for their own houses."

While Kittel beat fellow German Andre Greipel in a photo finish on Sunday night, just one bike length behind was 19-year-old Australian Caleb Ewan.

Asked whether he had heard of Ewan who was making his WorldTour debut, Kittel said:

"I've heard already from Koen De Kort who lives in Australia during the winter, (he) told me he is a big talent and a man to watch and I think with his third place he proved that he is."