Michal Kwiatkowski Thread

[Breezy1985]

He's won more with Ineos than he did with QS.

In terms of big wins it's 50/50 with the exception of WCRR but he moved to Ineos in his mid 20s as a rising star and spent his prime years to date at Ineos which is why people question his win rate over the last 3 years

 

[Naico]

He's won more with Ineos than he did with QS.

Yes but that’s because he got older and smarter (saving energy, waiting for the right moment, etc.) Form wise he certainly hasn’t been better at Ineos than when he was with QST. Strade and WC was peak Kwiatkowski and that was during his QST days.

 

[pastronef]

Kwiato won Strade Bianche with Sky too. and Sanremo. that was peak Kwiatkowski too

 

[oldcrank]

Yes but that’s because he got older and smarter (saving energy, waiting for the right moment, etc.) Form wise he certainly hasn’t been better at Ineos than when he was with QST. Strade and WC was peak Kwiatkowski and that was during his QST days.

Older and smarter, saving energy and waiting for the right moment is pretty much how SKY and INEOS win races. Even with Egan's historic Tour victory he had older, more experienced team mates and team staff, plus he saved energy and waited for the right moment to take Yellow.

And older, smarter, saving energy and waiting for the right moment is also a very precise description of the way Stannard beat three Quick Step riders that very memorable day in 2015!

Many of us have come to understand and accept (and appreciate!) that racing is a little different to a Watt-bike test.

 

[yaco]

He's won more with Ineos than he did with QS.

But hasn't reached his full potential.

 

[Blanco]

Rider as talented as Kwiatkowski simply shouldn't be used as a domestique. He could help his teammates when the occasion arise, but he shouldn't be forced to reach his top shape only to slave for his teammates for 3 weeks.

 

[Anderis]

I'm pretty much sure he is not "forced" to, otherwise he would be long gone to another team.

 

[Escarabajo]

Whether he wants to be domestique in the Grand Tours is his own choice. I am sure he does it for money. And very well earned money because he has no chance at winning a GT. Additionally he gets his chances at the one day races.

 

[Blanco]

I'm pretty much sure he is not "forced" to, otherwise he would be long gone to another team.

Not literally of course, but I'm sure that was the deal he made when he signed that fat pay check. I think it's a mistake, both from him and from Ineos, he's wasting his talent by doing that. I don't see Sagan, Van Avermaet, Alaphilippe, Valverde, Gilbert slaving for 3 weeks for anybody, and he's as good as those guys.

 

[tobydawq]

Kwiatkowski had a funny way of thanking Dumoulin for whispering his name in G's ear on the final podium in the 2018 Tour when G couldn't remember the last name from his team, taking the Dutchman down yesterday...

No, it seemed like an honest mistake, though, you would say Kwiato should be a bit more experienced and well-bike-handling than that.

 

[MatParker117]

Deserved that today

 

[Blanco]

More than deserved. Justice is served! One of the great riders of our time gets his 1st GT stage win.

 

[Ted Striker]

So pleased for him today

 

[fuiers]

Unbelievable that this was his first GT victory. I hope he leaves Ineos for better opportunities.

 

[MatParker117]

Unbelievable that this was his first GT victory. I hope he leaves Ineos for better opportunities.

His best results bar one have been at Ineos

 

[ppanther92]

Also Carapaz secured a very loyal domestique today. Win-win.

 

[TomLPC]

That was an unexpectedly heartwarming moment, he's been their MVP for years now and I never realised the guy hadn't won a GT stage.

Hopefully Brailsford doesn't ruin it like he usually does with some lame PR nonsense that it was all part of some pseudo scientific master plan like Kwiato has been using modified toilet seats in the weeks before when taking a *** to emulate the Glières.

 

[johnymax]

Love Michal. One of the best riders of the last decade. So happy for his win. Carapaz would be a worthy winner, too.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Just in case anyone wondered how much Nico was missed by Ineos, both professionally and personally, I think this should answer it:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1306624471604908032

View: https://twitter.com/kwiato/status/1306624471604908032?s=21

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations for winning stage 18.

 

[Ted Striker]

Whether he wants to be domestique in the Grand Tours is his own choice. I am sure he does it for money. And very well earned money because he has no chance at winning a GT. Additionally he gets his chances at the one day races.

he can pretty much pick any one day race he wants.

 

[BlueRoads]

I was thinking that was really close... if they wanted Michal to be the winner for sure that could have gone wrong?

 

[SafeBet]

I remember him battling it out with Moreno Moser in the 2012 Tour of Pologne. At the time I thought both of them would dominate the hilly races for a long long time.
Turns out one of them was a bit better than the other.

I'm genuinely happy for his win yesterday. Hard to believe he had yet to win the GT stage, considering his talent and skillset. But that tells you a lot about cycling also. One year you're the best all arounder in town, bound to win races left and right for decades, the next you mistimed your prep or have to domestique for somebody else or another all arounder comes to town and wins the races you were supposed to dominate. And you go ten years among the pros without winning a GT stage.

 

[tobydawq]

It can't be many riders who tick off WCRR, MSR, AGR, E3, CSS, Strade and Tirreno before winning a Grand Tour stage, let alone a non-prologue stage in a World Tour stage race.

 

[tobydawq]

Let's get this back to page one before he retakes the rainbows tomorrow.

Later in the year he will - according to the plan - ride the Ardennes, Flanders and make his debut in Roubaix.

And he seems like he is really good currently.