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Michał Kwiatkowski

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This article is about the Polish professional cyclist. For the Polish singer, see Michal (singer).

Michał Kwiatkowski
Kwiatkowski at the 2021 Tour de France
Personal information
Full nameMichał Kwiatkowski
NicknameKwiato, Kwiatek[1]
Born (1990-06-02) 2 June 1990 (age 34)
Chełmża, Poland
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb; 10 st 10 lb)
Team information
Current teamIneos Grenadiers
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeAll-rounder
Climber
Puncheur
Classics specialist
Time trialist
Amateur team
2009MG Kvis–Norda Pacific
Professional teams
2010Caja Rural
2011Team RadioShack
2012–2015Omega Pharma–Quick-Step[2][3]
2016–Team Sky[4][5]
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
2 individual stages (2020, 2023)
Vuelta a España
1 TTT stage (2016)

Stage races

Tirreno–Adriatico (2018)
Tour de Pologne (2018)
Volta ao Algarve (2014, 2018)

One-day races and Classics

World Road Race Championships (2014)
National Road Race Championships (2013, 2018)
National Time Trial Championships
(2014, 2017, 2023)
Milan–San Remo (2017)
Amstel Gold Race (2015, 2022)
E3 Harelbeke (2016)
Clásica de San Sebastián (2017)
Strade Bianche (2014, 2017)
Medal record
Men's road bicycle racing
World Championships
Representing  Poland
Gold medal – first place 2014 Ponferrada Road race
Gold medal – first place 2008 Cape Town Junior time trial
Representing Omega Pharma–Quick-Step (2013–2014)
Etixx–Quick-Step (2015)
Team Sky (2017)
Gold medal – first place 2013 Florence Team time trial
Silver medal – second place 2015 Richmond Team time trial
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Ponferrada Team time trial
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Bergen Team time trial

Michał Kwiatkowski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈmixaw kfjatˈkɔfski], born 2 June 1990) is a Polish professional road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Ineos Grenadiers.[6]

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 early in his career, winning the World Junior Time Trial Championships in 2008. In 2014, Kwiatkowski became the world elite road race champion, and he was also a member of the Omega Pharma–Quick-Step team that won the 2013 World Team Time Trial Championships. In 2017 he won his first 'Monument', Milan–San Remo, while in 2018, he won Tirreno–Adriatico and the Tour de Pologne. He is a two-time winner of two of the most prestigious non-Monument classics, the Amstel Gold Race and the Strade Bianche.

Career

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Early career

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Kwiatkowski is a double European junior champion, winning the road race in 2007 and the individual time trial in 2008. In 2009 he became national road champion in the under-23 category, and he also won a stage of the Okolo Slovenska. 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)

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2012

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Kwiatkowski moved to Omega Pharma–Quick-Step for the 2012 season. He impressed in his first year with the team, winning the prologue of the 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

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Kwiatkowski wearing the white jersey of young rider classification leader at the 2013 Tour de France; Kwiatkowski held the classification lead for ten days during the race, and finished third in those standings behind Nairo Quintana and Andrew Talansky.

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 climbers 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 the 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 time trial, 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.[7] Even though he lost the white jersey, he still managed to finish 11th in his Tour debut.[8]

2014

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

In 2014, Kwiatkowski won the Italian Classic Strade Bianche. He followed a strong attack from Peter Sagan with 20 kilometres (12 miles) to go and the pair cooperated well until Kwiatkowski dropped Sagan on the final climb to Siena.[9] He placed on the third step of the podium in Liège–Bastogne–Liège as well as in La Flèche Wallonne and fifth in the 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.[10] Overall he placed second in the general classification and first in the points classification.[11]

Later that same month he became the first Polish cyclist to win the UCI Road Race World Championships. Kwiatkowski made a solo attack about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) 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.[12] After the race, Kwiatkowski posted his winning ride on Strava, which helped determine his statistics for the event. He climbed 5,106 metres (16,752 feet) and burned 6,338 kilocalories (26,520 kilojoules) during the course of 6:29:45,[13] producing an average power of 240 watts with an average heartbeat of 148 beats per minute.[14] He rode his first race in the rainbow jersey at Il Lombardia and finished 77th.[15]

2015

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Kwiatkowski, wearing the rainbow jersey as the incumbent world champion, 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 in the year.[16] He used the 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 palmarès.[17]

He abandoned the 2015 Tour de France during Stage 17.[18]

Team Sky / Team Ineos (2016–present)

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2016

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On 27 September 2015, Team Sky announced the signing of Kwiatkowski for the 2016 season.[19]

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 30 kilometres (19 miles) remaining.[20] He was named in the startlist for the Vuelta a España,[21] After Team Sky won the opening time trial, Kwiatkowski took the race leader's red jersey after finishing fourth on stage 2. However, he lost the race lead to the Movistar Team's Rubén Fernández the following day, and abandoned on stage 7 with a back injury.[22] This marked a culmination of a difficult season for Kwiatkowski, after illnesses earlier in the year had wrecked his Ardennes classics campaign and led to him missing out on selection for the Tour de France.[23]

2017

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Kwiatkowski winning the 2017 Milan–San Remo by narrowly outsprinting Peter Sagan and Julian Alaphilippe on the Via Roma.

On 4 March 2017, Kwiatkowski won the Strade Bianche after attacking from a group of four race favourites with around 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) remaining and he was able to solo away to the race victory in Siena. By doing so, he became the second rider, after Fabian Cancellara, to win multiple editions of the race.[24] Later that month, Kwiatkowski won Milan–San Remo in a three-up sprint finish ahead of world champion Peter Sagan (Bora–Hansgrohe) and Quick-Step Floors rider Julian Alaphilippe after the trio broke clear on the race's final climb – the Poggio di San Remo.[25] This was his first victory on one of the Monuments. On 16 April, Kwiatkowski took second place in the Amstel Gold Race after being defeated by Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) in a two-up sprint finish.[26]

He was selected for Sky's Tour de France squad thanks to his recent successes, fulfilling his goal since joining the team of getting to ride the Tour with team leader Chris Froome. He finished 8th on the opening stage in Düsseldorf as well as 2nd in the final time trial in Marseille. However, it was his selfless efforts in support of Froome that gained him much praise from fans and media as a "super-domestique", especially shown on stage 14 to Rodez where he set up his team leader perfectly for the final run-in and on stage 15 to Le Puy-en-Velay, surrendering his back wheel to Froome when he had a mechanical on the ascent of the Col de Peyra Talliade. On 29 July he won Clásica de San Sebastián, outsprinting Tony Gallopin, Bauke Mollema, Tom Dumoulin and teammate Mikel Landa in a five-man sprint finish. Over a week later, he signed a 3-year contract extension with Team Sky.[27]

2018

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At the Volta ao Algarve in February 2018, Kwiatkowski, whilst sitting second overall behind teammate Geraint Thomas, was part of a 31-man breakaway which went clear in the opening kilometres of the final stage. Kwiatkowski held on to win the stage on the Malhão to take overall victory by 1 minute 31 seconds over Thomas.[28] In March, Kwiatkowski again took a leader's jersey from Thomas on the fourth stage at Tirreno–Adriatico. Thomas suffered a mechanical issue 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles) from the summit of the final climb to Sarnano–Sassotetto, that resulted in him losing 34 seconds and the overall leader's blue jersey to Kwiatkowski.[29] Kwiatkowski held on to win the race overall.[30] In July Kwiatkowski again played a supporting role for Team Sky at the 2018 Tour de France, helping Thomas to win the race overall and Chris Froome to finish third overall.[31] One week after the Tour de France, in early August, Kwiatkowski rode his home race, the Tour de Pologne. He won stage 4, with a steep uphill finish in Szczyrk, and successfully defended his lead in the following stages to win the race overall.[32]

2023

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He rode in the 2023 Tour de France, where he won stage 13.[33]

Career achievements

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Major results

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2007
UEC European Junior Road Championships
1st Road race
2nd Time trial
1st Overall Course de la Paix Juniors
1st Points classification
1st Young rider classification
1st Stage 1
10th Overall Giro della Lunigiana
1st Stage 2
2008
1st Time trial, UCI Junior Road World Championships
UEC European Junior Road Championships
1st Time trial
9th Road race
1st Overall Trofeo Karlsberg
1st Stage 1
1st Overall Course de la Paix Juniors
2009
1st Road race, National Under-23 Road Championships
1st Stage 2 Okolo Slovenska
4th Memoriał Henryka Łasaka
4th Gran Premio della Liberazione
7th Giro del Mendrisiotto
10th Trofeo Edil C
10th Coupe des Carpathes
2010
4th Overall Szlakiem Grodów Piastowskich
7th Overall Volta ao Alentejo
10th Gran Premio de Llodio
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 (1 pro win)
1st Prologue Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
2nd Overall Tour de Pologne
8th Overall Eneco Tour
2013 (1)
1st Team time trial, UCI Road World Championships
National Road Championships
1st Road race
2nd Time trial
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
Tour de France
Held after Stages 2–7 & 11–14
2014 (9)
UCI Road World Championships
1st Road race
3rd Team time trial
1st Time trial, National Road Championships
1st Overall Volta ao Algarve
1st Stages 2 & 3 (ITT)
1st Strade Bianche
1st Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana
1st Prologue Tour de Romandie
1st Stage 1 (TTT) Tirreno–Adriatico
2nd Overall Tour of Britain
1st Points classification
1st Stage 4
2nd Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Points classification
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 (2)
1st Amstel Gold Race
UCI Road World Championships
2nd Team time trial
8th Road race
2nd Overall Paris–Nice
1st Young rider classification
1st Prologue
2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve
4th Dwars door Vlaanderen
8th Overall Tour of the Basque Country
Tour de France
Combativity award Stages 2 & 12
2016 (1)
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
2017 (4)
1st Time trial, National Road Championships
1st Milan–San Remo
1st Clásica de San Sebastián
1st Strade Bianche
2nd Overall Volta ao Algarve
2nd Amstel Gold Race
3rd Team time trial, UCI Road World Championships
3rd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
5th Overall Tour of Britain
6th UCI World Tour
7th La Flèche Wallonne
2018 (9)
National Road Championships
1st Road race
3rd Time trial
1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Overall Tour de Pologne
1st Points classification
1st Stages 4 & 5
1st Overall Volta ao Algarve
1st Points classification
1st Stages 2 & 5
Critérium du Dauphiné
1st Prologue & Stage 3 (TTT)
4th Time trial, UCI Road World Championships
Vuelta a España
Held after Stages 2–4
Held after Stages 2–6
Held after Stages 2–4 & 6
Combativity award Stage 14
2019
3rd Overall Paris–Nice
1st Points classification
3rd Milan–San Remo
4th Time trial, National Road Championships
10th Overall UAE Tour
2020 (1)
1st Stage 18 Tour de France
4th Road race, UCI Road World Championships
4th Gran Trittico Lombardo
6th La Flèche Wallonne
6th Brabantse Pijl
10th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2021
1st Stage 3 (TTT) Tour of Britain
2nd Overall Étoile de Bessèges
3rd Overall Tour de Pologne
8th Amstel Gold Race
2022 (1)
1st Amstel Gold Race
2023 (2)
1st Time trial, National Road Championships
Tour de France
1st Stage 13
Combativity award Stage 13
3rd Overall Tour de Pologne
2024
4th Vuelta a Murcia
7th Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior

General classification results timeline

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Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Pink jersey Giro d'Italia 136 — — — — — — — — — — — —
Yellow jersey Tour de France — 11 28 DNF — 57 49 83 30 68 — 49 54
red jersey Vuelta a España — — — — DNF — 43 — — — — —
Major stage race general classification results
Stage races 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Yellow jersey Paris–Nice — — — 2 — — — 3 — — — — —
Tirreno–Adriatico — 4 18 — 8 27 1 — — 51 — 90 98
Volta a Catalunya — — — — — — — — NH — DNF — —
Yellow jersey Tour of the Basque Country — — 2 8 — 30 DNF DNF — — — DNF
Yellow jersey Tour de Romandie DNF — DNF — DNF — — — — — — —
Yellow jersey Critérium du Dauphiné — DNF DNF — DNF 43 49 29 DNF 68 DNF — 32
Yellow jersey Tour de Suisse — — — 71 — — — — NH — — 29 —

Classics results timeline

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Monument 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Milan–San Remo — — DNF DNF 67 40 1 11 3 15 17 16 139 54
Tour of Flanders DNF — 40 — — 27 — 28 — 54 — — — —
Paris–Roubaix — — — — — — — — — NH 70 77 — —
Liège–Bastogne–Liège — DNF 92 3 21 36 3 29 12 10 11 100 DNF DNF
Giro di Lombardia DNF — DNF 77 54 — DNF — — — — — —
Classic 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Strade Bianche — — — 1 — 20 1 30 — 12 DNF — 18 DNF
Dwars door Vlaanderen — — — — 4 — — — — NH — — — —
E3 Harelbeke — 41 82 — — 1 — — — — — DNF —
Gent–Wevelgem 75 — DNF — — — — — — DNF — — DNF —
Brabantse Pijl — — — — — — — — — 6 — — DNF —
Amstel Gold Race — DNF 4 5 1 DNF 2 31 11 NH 8 1 72 35
La Flèche Wallonne — DNF 5 3 33 — 7 57 16 6 23 92 115 DNF
Clásica de San Sebastián — — DNF — — 107 1 — — NH — — —

Major championships timeline

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Event 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Olympic Games Road race NH 60 Not held 62 Not held 11 Not held
Time trial — 14 —
World Championships Road race 31 — DNF 1 8 — 11 DNF — 4 36 — DNF
Time trial 48 — 24 — — — — 4 — — — — —
National Championships Road race — 16 1 21 57 25 — 1 — — — — 10
Time trial 21 2 2 1 — — 1 3 4 — — — 1

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Michal Kwiatkowski". Omega Pharma–Quick-Step. Decolef. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. 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-Quick-Step Cycling Team (OPQ) – BEL". UCI World Tour. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Team Sky". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Team Ineos". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Ineos Grenadiers". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. ^ Peter Cossins (13 July 2013). "Froome crowned king of Mont Ventoux". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  8. ^ "Tour de France 2013: final race details and standings". The Guardian. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2014. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Michal Kwiatkowski takes Strade Bianche from Peter Sagan". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  10. ^ Barry Ryan (10 September 2014). "Kwiatkowski wins stage 4 in Tour of Britain". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Kittel wins final Tour of Britain stage". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  12. ^ "World Championships: Michal Kwiatkowski wins road race gold". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Worlds shorts: Kwiatkowski's ride on Strava, Cancellara, and Lefevere". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Power meter analysis: Kwiatkowski's World Champs win". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media Sports & Leisure network. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  15. ^ "Results: 2014 Il Lombardia". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Kwiatkowski sets sights on Tour de France". Cyclingquotes. 10 January 2015.
  17. ^ "Kwiatkowski sprints to first victory in rainbow jersey in Amstel Gold Race". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Michal Kwiatkowski signs for Team Sky from Etixx – Quick-Step". Sky Sports. Sky UK. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  20. ^ "E3 Harelbeke 2016: Results – Cyclingnews.com". 25 March 2016.
  21. ^ "71st Vuelta a España". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  22. ^ "71st Vuelta a España: Stage 7 » Maceda › Puebla de Sanabria". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Michal Kwiatkowski keen to end illness and injury-plagued season".
  24. ^ "Kwiatkowski gives Sky Strade Bianche tonic". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Agence France-Presse. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  25. ^ Robertshaw, Henry (18 March 2017). "Brilliant Michal Kwiatkowski edges out Peter Sagan to win Milan-San Remo 2017". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  26. ^ Windsor, Richard (16 April 2017). "Philippe Gilbert beats Michal Kwiatkowski to victory at Amstel Gold Race". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  27. ^ "Kwiatkowski agrees new three-year deal with Team Sky". 8 August 2017.
  28. ^ "Geraint Thomas downed by friendly fire at Volta ao Algarve - Cyclingnews.com". 18 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  29. ^ "'It's frustrating': Geraint Thomas on losing Tirreno-Adriatico lead due to jammed chain - Cycling Weekly". 10 March 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Geraint Thomas reflects on 'bittersweet' Tirreno-Adriatico podium spot - Cycling Weekly". 13 March 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  31. ^ "Local star Kwiatkowski in the limelight at Tour de Pologne". 4 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Kwiatkowski savours Tour de Pologne victory after courageous final defence". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Michal Kwiatkowski wins Stage 13; Pogacar closes on Vingegaard". ESPN.
  34. ^ "Kwiatkowski Won International Flandrien Award 2014". Omega Pharma–Quick-Step. Decolef. 16 October 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  35. ^ "To podziękowanie nie tylko od prezydenta, ale od całej Polski". 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
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