Michał Kwiatkowski believes he can mirror Geraint Thomas' transition to Grand Tour contender
The Team Sky leader believes he has the potential to win the Tour de France
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Michał Kwiatkowski believes he has the ability to win the Tour de France and hopes to mirror the success of team-mate Geraint Thomas.
The Polish all-rounder, Team Sky’s co-leader at the UAE Tour, says he hopes to continue progressing until he has the opportunity to win a Grand Tour.
Kwiatkowski and team-mate Gianni Moscon are sharing responsibilities in the Middle East after Chris Froome pulled out last week.
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When asked if he believed he had the potential to win a Grand Tour, the former world champion told Cycling Weekly: “Definitely. It’s a matter of progression on the climbs, being able to maintain the form throughout, and being solid for the three weeks.
“Right now I’m going in the right direction, and let’s hope I can step-by-step win stage races.
“One day there will be a moment when I’m able to fight like G [Geraint Thomas].
“He had different goals in his life but he was always working hard.
“Last year it just worked out perfectly.
“So he used opportunity which life gave him, which he created himself.
“Let’s hope one day I will be able to do the same.”
>>> Tadej Pogacar survives dangerous attacks to win the 2019 Volta ao Algarve
Kwiatkowski’s skills have allowed him to build a stellar palmarès of one-day victories, including two wins at Strade Bianche, and success at E3 Harelbeke, Amstel Gold Race, and Milan-San Remo in 2017, his first Monument.
He also became world champion in 2014.
But last season, the 28-year-old proved himself as a quality stage racer, winning the Volta ao Algarve, Tirreno-Adriatico and home race the Tour of Poland.
Kwiatkowski is also an invaluable lieutenant to Chris Froome at the Tour de France, routinely sacrificing his form in service of the four-time Tour winner.
At the end of 2018, he was given his first opportunity to lead a Sky squad at a Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España.
He wore the leader’s jersey for three stages, but crashes and ailing form in the late season hindered his performance.
But after leaving without a stage victory and finishing 43rd overall, Kwiatkowski was optimistic about his performance: “I had the opportunity and I had a really great time.
“It was a pity I didn’t win any stages. I had some bad luck but that’s how it is in cycling.
“I rode as a leader as I’m racing as leader right now in UAE.
“It was a way of preparing. It was nice to wear the red jersey and nice to have the full support of the team, but I was training from October [2017] for San Remo preparation
“I had different goals.”
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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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