Michał Kwiatkowski

This article is about the cyclist Michał Kwiatkowski. For the singer, see Michal (singer).
Michał Kwiatkowski

Kwiatkowski at the 2015 Grand Prix de Fourmies
Personal information
Full name Michał Kwiatkowski
Nickname Flowerman, Kwiatek,[1] Kwiato, Flower Power, Kwiatpolski
Born (1990-06-02) 2 June 1990
Działyń, Poland
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Weight 68 kg (150 lb; 10.7 st)
Team information
Current team Team Sky
Discipline Road
Role Rider
Rider type All-rounder
Professional team(s)
2009 MG Kvis – Norda Pacific
2010 Caja Rural
2011 Team RadioShack
2012–2015 Omega Pharma–Quick-Step[2]
2016– Team Sky
Major wins

Grand Tours

Vuelta a España
1 TTT stage (2016)
Stage races
Volta ao Algarve (2014)

One-day races and Classics

World Road Race Championships (2014)
World Team Time Trial Championships (2013)
National Road Race Championships (2013)
National Time Trial Championships (2014)
Amstel Gold Race (2015)
E3 Harelbeke (2016)
Strade Bianche (2014)
Infobox last updated on
25 March 2016

Michał Kwiatkowski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈmixaw kfjatˈkɔfski], born 2 June 1990) is a Polish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Team Sky.[3] Kwiatkowski is seen as a strong all rounder, with good sprinting, time-trialling and climbing abilities allowing him to win both stage races and one day classics. His talent was shown in early career winning the World Junior Time Trial. In 2014, Kwiatkowski became the world champion of elite men's road race at the age of 24. He was also a member in the Omega Pharma-Quick-Step World Team Time Trial winning team in 2013.

Career

Early career

Kwiatkowski is a double European champion (road race 2007, time trial 2008). In 2009 he became national road champion in the under-23 category. He also won a stage of the Tour de Slovaquie. He turned professional in 2010 with Caja Rural and in 2011 joined Team RadioShack, and placed third overall in the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, the Three Days of De Panne and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step (2012–2015)

Kwiatkowski moved to Omega Pharma–Quick-Step for the 2012 season. He impressed in his first year with the team, winning the prologue of Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen. He also finished second overall in his home race, the Tour de Pologne, and eighth overall in the Eneco Tour.

2013

Kwiatkowski in the White Jersey at the 2013 Tour de France.

Kwiatkowski began the 2013 season in excellent form, placing second overall in the Volta ao Algarve. He then finished fourth overall in Tirreno-Adriatico, and won the young rider classification, after proving one of the strongest climber in the race. He finished fourth at the summit finish of Prati di Tivo to take the overall race lead from team-mate Mark Cavendish, before surrendering it the next day. Kwiatkowski then rode a strong classics campaign, placing fourth in the Amstel Gold Race and fifth in La Flèche Wallonne. In June, he won his senior National Road Race Championships for the first time.

Kwiatkowski's excellent form saw him selected to ride the Tour de France. He wore the white jersey – of young rider classification leader – in the first week after coming third on Stage 2 and fourth on Stage 3, both reduced bunch sprints. On Stage 7 he came in fourth again. On Stage 9 (a high mountain stage) he reached the podium once again. With a strong ITT he was able to regain the white jersey of the young rider classification on Stage 11, but lost the lead shortly after to Nairo Quintana.[4] Even though he lost the white jersey, he still managed to finish 11th in his Tour debut.[5]

2014

In 2014, Kwiatkowski won the Italian Classic Strade Bianche. He followed a strong attack from Peter Sagan with 20 kilometers to go and the pair cooperated well until Kwiatkowski dropped Sagan on the final climb to Siena.[6] He placed on the third step of the podium in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège as well as in La Flèche Wallonne and fifth in Amstel Gold Race.

In September, he grabbed the leader's jersey of the Tour of Britain by winning the fourth Stage in a select group sprint of 6 riders.[7] Overall he placed second in the general classification and first in the points classification.[8]

Kwiatkowski on the podium after winning the 2014 UCI World Championships Road Race

Later that same month he became the first Polish cyclist to win the UCI Road Race World Championship. Kwiatkowski made a solo attack about seven km from the finish line on a downhill section. Despite a late chase, he was able to hold the lead and coast across the finish line, winning the rainbow jersey.[9] After the race, Kwiatkowski posted his winning ride on Strava, which helped determine his statistics for the event. He climbed 5 106 meters and burned 6 338 kilocalories during the course of 6:29:45,[10] producing an average power of 240 watts with an average heartbeat of 148 beats per minute.[11] He rode his first race in the rainbow jersey at Il Lombardia and finished 77th.[12]

2015

Kwiatkowski wearing the Rainbow Jersey at the 2015 Tour de France

Being reigning world champion, Kwiatkowski tended to start the 2015 year with a less aggressive approach than 2014 for the bigger race later on.[13] He used Volta ao Algarve and Paris–Nice as warm up races to prepare for the classics campaign, finishing second overall in both events. In April, Kwiatkowski earned a prestigious victory at the Amstel Gold Race. After the last climb of the Cauberg, he had to work to join a small group led by Philippe Gilbert. Before the finish line, a regrouping of about fifteen riders formed and Kwiatkowski outsprinted them to add the Dutch classic to his palmares.[14]

He abandoned the 2015 Tour de France during Stage 17.[15]

On 27 September 2015, Team Sky announced the signing of Kwiatkowski for the 2016 season.[16]

Team Sky (2016-)

2016

On 25 March 2016, Kwiatkowski won his first cobbled classic, E3 Harelbeke, by outsprinting Peter Sagan after the pair broke away from an elite group with 30km remaining.[17] He was named in the startlist for the 2016 Vuelta a España,[18] but he abandoned on stage 7.[19]

Career achievements

Major results

2007
1st European Junior Road Race Championships
2008
1st World Junior Time Trial Championships
1st European Junior Time Trial Championships
1st Overall Trofeo Karlsberg
2009
1st National Under-23 Road Race Championships
1st Stage 2 Tour de Slovaquie
4th Memorial Henryka Lasaka
4th Gran Premio della Liberazione
7th Giro del Mendrisiotto
2010
4th Overall Szlakiem Grodów Piastowskich
7th Overall Volta ao Alentejo
2011
3rd Overall Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
3rd Overall Three Days of De Panne
3rd Overall Tour du Poitou-Charentes
6th Grand Prix de Wallonie
2012
1st Prologue Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
2nd Overall Tour de Pologne
8th Overall Eneco Tour
2013
1st World Team Time Trial Championships
1st National Road Race Championships
2nd National Time Trial Championships
2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve
4th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Young rider classification
1st Stage 1 (TTT)
4th Amstel Gold Race
5th La Flèche Wallonne
5th Grand Prix de Wallonie
11th Overall Tour de France
Held after Stages 2–7, 11–14
2014
1st World Road Race Championships
1st National Time Trial Championships
1st Overall Volta ao Algarve
1st Stages 2 & 3 (ITT)
1st Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana
1st Strade Bianche
1st Prologue (ITT) Tour de Romandie
1st Stage 1 (TTT) Tirreno–Adriatico
2nd Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Points classification
2nd Overall Tour of Britain
1st Points classification
1st Stage 4
3rd World Team Time Trial Championships
3rd La Flèche Wallonne
3rd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
5th Amstel Gold Race
7th Trofeo Ses Salines
Tour de France
Held after Stages 8–9
2015
1st Amstel Gold Race
2nd World Team Time Trial Championships
2nd Overall Paris–Nice
1st Young rider classification
1st Prologue (ITT)
2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve
4th Dwars door Vlaanderen
8th World Road Race Championships
8th Overall Tour of the Basque Country
Tour de France
Combativity award Stages 2 & 12
2016
1st E3 Harelbeke
Vuelta a España
1st Stage 1 (TTT)
Held after Stage 2
2nd Trofeo Pollenca-Port de Andratx
2nd Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana
8th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Grand Tour 2012 2013 2014 2015
Pink jersey Giro d'Italia 136 — — —
Points classification 74 — — —
Youth classification 37 — — —
Yellow jersey Tour de France — 11 28 WD
Points classification — 8 32 —
Mountains classification — — 26 —
Youth classification — 3 3 —
red jersey Vuelta a España — — — WD
Points classification — — — —
Youth classification — — — —

WD = Withdrew; In Progress = IP

Classics results timeline

Year Milan–San Remo E3 Harelbeke Gent–Wevelgem Tour of Flanders Paris–Roubaix Amstel Gold Race La Flèche Wallonne Liège–Bastogne–Liège Clásica de San Sebastián Paris–Tours Giro di Lombardia Road World Championships
2011 – – 75th – – – – – – 82nd DNF 31st
2012 – – – – – DNF DNF DNF – – – –
2013 DNF 82nd – 40th – 4th 5th 92nd – – DNF DNF
2014 DNF – – – – 5th 3rd 3rd – – 77th 1st
2015 67th – – – – 1st 33rd 21st – – 54th 8th
2016 40th 1st – 27th – DNF – 36th 107th – –

DNF = Did not finish; – = Did not compete

National championships timeline

Year Road race Time trial
2011 – 21st
2012 16th 2nd
2013 2nd
2014 21st
2015 57th –

Personal awards

References

  1. ↑ "Michal Kwiatkowski". Omega Pharma–Quick-Step. Decolef. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Philippon, Alexandre (5 August 2011). "Omega Pharma – Quick Step recrute Golas" [Omega Pharma – Quick Step recruits Golas]. Velochrono.fr (in French). Velochrono. Retrieved 4 January 2012. Ce vendredi, la future équipe Omega Pharma – Quick Step a officialisé la venue de Michal Kwiatkowski pour 2012, mais aussi celle d’un autre Polonais, Michal Golas. [This Friday, the future Omega Pharma – Quick Step has formalized the arrival of Michal Kwiatkowski for 2012, but also that of another Pole, Michal Golas]
  3. ↑ "Omega Pharma-Team Sky (SKY) – BEL". UCI World Tour. Union Cycliste Internationale. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Peter Cossins (13 July 2013). "Froome crowned king of Mont Ventoux". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Tour de France 2013: final race details and standings". The Guardian. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2014. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Michal Kwiatkowski takes Strade Bianche from Peter Sagan". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Barry Ryan (10 September 2014). "Kwiatkowski wins stage 4 in Tour of Britain". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Kittel wins final Tour of Britain stage". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "World Championships: Michal Kwiatkowski wins road race gold". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Worlds shorts: Kwiatkowski's ride on Strava, Cancellara, and Lefevere". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Power meter analysis: Kwiatkowski's World Champs win". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media Sports & Leisure network. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Results: 2014 Il Lombardia". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Kwiatkowski sets sights on Tour de France". Cyclingquotes. 10 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Kwiatkowski sprints to first victory in rainbow jersey in Amstel Gold Race". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  15. ↑ Clarke, Stuart (23 July 2015). ""It was hard to abandon Tour de France in rainbow stripes," says Kwiatkowski". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  16. ↑ http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/12040/10007401/michal-kwiatkowski-signs-for-team-sky-from-etixx-quick-step
  17. ↑ http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/e3-harelbeke-2016/results/
  18. ↑ "71st Vuelta a España". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "71st Vuelta a España: Stage 7 » Maceda › Puebla de Sanabria". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "Kwiatkowski Won International Flandrien Award 2014". Etixx–Quick-Step. Etixx–Quick-Step. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "To podziękowanie nie tylko od prezydenta, ale od całej Polski.". 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
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