Team Sky's Michal Kwiatkowski smashes course to win Polish time trial championship title

Team Sky's Michal Kwiatkowski stormed to victory in the Polish Road National Championships individual time trial, beating the second placed rider Marcin Bialoblocki (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) by 1-15 over the 39.6km course.

>>> British Road National Championships 2017 time trial start list

The 27-year-old former world road race champion clocked 49-42 over the course in Krokowa, claiming his second national time trial title with Bialoblocki in second and defending champion Maciej Bodnar further back at 1-31 in third place.

Kwiatkoski last won the national time trial title in 2014, and having won the road race title in 2013, will be looking to double up again on national championship wins with the road race this weekend.

He'll likely debut his new time trial colours in the opening 14km time trial of the 2017 Tour de France in Düsseldorf, Germany. Though Team Sky are yet to confirm their line-up for the Tour, Kwiatkowski is a strong favourite to line-up in support of Chris Froome after a phenomenal season.

The Pole won his first Monument in an unexpected victory at Milan-San Remo, having taken a second career victory at Strade Bianche not long before in March.

He then narrowly missed out on a second career victory at the Amstel Gold Race, where he finished runner-up to Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step), before rounding of the Ardennes Classics with third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Kwiatkowski then resumed racing after the Ardennes at the Critérium du Dauphiné in early June, putting in a strong showing in support of Froome in the mountains.

Despite all that, Kwiatkowski said Wednesday's win in his home championships was one of his strongest rides ever.

"Today was one of my best days ever on a bike," he said after the finish.

"I felt very strong from the start, despite it beginning uphill and with a headwind. I had great support from my family and (Team Sky carer) Marek Sawicki."

National championships around the world take place the week, with most time trials taking places on Wednesday and Thursday and road races this coming weekend on Friday and Saturday.