Michal Kwiatkowski aiming to break Team Sky's Monument duck
New Team Sky recruit says there isn't any pressure on him to bring a Monument win right away, but he will put pressure on himself to win one

Three Tour de France titles in their first six years isn't a bad return for Team Sky, but the lack of one-day Monument wins on their palmares is notable.
To combat that, Sky and manager Sir Dave Brailsford went out and got the most prized free-agent on the market this winter - former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski.
The Pole starts his season at Challenge Mallorca at the end of January and enters the Volta ao Algarve as a likely team leader before embarking on a run of one-day races. While the Ardennes are a goal, Kwiatkowski will also be racing a cobbled Monument, in the form of the Tour of Flanders.
"My first personal ambitions are the Classics," he told Biciciclismo. "[Going] back to the Amstel Gold race, where I won last year in the rainbow jersey, and Liege [-Bastogne-Liege], where I was third in 2014. Also, I'll be back to Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders."
On winning Sky's first Monument, he said: "There is no pressure in this regard. I don't think they have that expectation [of me] in the first year. My personal ambition for a couple of years, one of my dreams is to win Monuments, so we have the same mentality. I don't feel pressure from outside because that does not help, but [I feel pressure] from myself."
Kwiatkowski isn't sure he will be selected for the Tour de France, where teammate Chris Froome will be defending his title, but the former Etixx-Quick Step rider says he would love to "sacrifice" himself for his leader.
He finished 11th at the Tour de France in his own right in 2013, and was reportedly frustrated at not being allowed to race for his own classification at Etixx at the Tour in subsequent years.
"I think that I can learn a lot from a rider as Chris (Froome)," he added. "It would be wonderful to form part of the team for the Tour, ride by his side."
Adding: "I want to be in the Tour. The team has to sacrifice for their leader to win the Tour, everyone understands that it is the most important race of the season, and there is no place to play your own role."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Your Apple Watch is about to become a truly viable cycling smartwatch
The US tech giant is boasting connectivity to peripherals such as power meters in its new Watch OS 10
By Joe Baker • Published
-
You could own a Giro edition EF Education-EasyPost Pro Cycling team bike
Bicycle manufacturer Cannondale has partnered with the Los Angeles Bike Academy to raffle off Jonathan Caicedo's race bike from the 2021 Giro d'Italia.
By Henry Lord • Published
-
This 39-year-old INEOS Grenadiers rider moonlights as a pro triathlete
A Jack of all trades, Cameron Wurf is a domestique for INEOS Grenadiers professional cycling team, but doubles as a successful pro triathlete.
By Kristin Jenny • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers' only female rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévot eyes road return
Mountain bike legend could be back in the peloton next year
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Egan Bernal has nose operation to help 'air passage' ahead of 2023
Procedure not thought to be connected to the life-threatening crash which affected Colombian last year
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tweets of the week: Ineos Grenadiers' three wise men, team jersey déjà vu and World Cup celebrations by bike
Here's our social media round-up, featuring a cycling all-star nativity
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign their first female rider
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot reported to be joining new Ineos mountain bike team, alongside Tom Pidcock
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Remco Evenepoel transfer to Ineos Grenadiers is ‘too stupid for words’ says Patrick Lefevere
Lefevere revealed he has been laughing at speculation around the new world champion
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign unknown 18-year-old Michael Leonard
Canadian is the latest young rider to join the British squad
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign 18 year-old time trial and track talent Josh Tarling
The 18-year-old is a two-time Welsh national track champion, and finished second in the 2021 junior worlds time trial
By Ryan Dabbs • Published