Kwiatkowski says his worlds win won't change him

New road race world champion says he won't change and looks ahead to his targets for 2015. - Omega Pharma well placed to support the world champion in the classics - Kwiatkowski can learn from previous world championships Tom Boonen and Mark Cavendish

28 September 2014
Road World Championships (Ponferrada, SPAIN)
Men Elite
1st : KWIATKOWSKI Michal (POL) Omega Pharma - Quickstep
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Michal Kwiatkowski will have the honour of wearing the rainbow stripes throughout the 2015 season, but the 24-year-old Pole has said he wants to remain the grounded person he is now. Kwiatkowski pulled off a tactical coup in the final stages of the world championships road race in Ponferrada, riding away on a tricky descent before pushing home his advantage as the likes of Alejandro Valverde, Simon Gerrans and Philippe Gilbert neutralised each other in the final two kilometres.

"I want to stay as the same guy," Kwiatkowski said in his new jersey. "I should ask Tom Boonen, my Omega Pharma team-mate, how winning the 2005 Worlds in Madrid changed his life. I was 15 at the time, but he could say how that win changed his life over the last nine years."

Thank you for reading 20 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

Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.