Michal Kwiatkowski Thread

[damian13ster]

Also, just read an interview with him.
Michal said that he feels stronger than last year, especially in the mountains. He is afraid though that freshness will not be there at the tour because of all the hard work put in and thats why he decided to DNS in later stages of Dauphine and went to rest at home. He is supposed to be recovering until thursday and then put some finishing touches in a build up by competing in Poland's National Championships. No other races before Tour after that.

He also mentions that its hard to predict how stage 5 will play out, but having Paris-Roubaix winner with him definetely adds confidence and that confidence is extremely important in stressful stage like that. So far he has made reconessaince of stages 8,9,10 and he likes the designs, especially for stage 8. In other unsurprising news he regrets there is only and ITT and no TTT. Also, Michal realizes there will be days during which he feels week and just hopes he is able to overcome that liek he did last year.

When answering question about a role in the team he said that he feels he didnt do enough yet to earn the position in which others will work for him, and that he likes to work for Cavendish, since it is not very tiring for him and he feeds of Cavs' energy and desire to win. Also, in other part of the races Mark works for him and its a shame its not noticed.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Also, just read an interview with him.
Michal said that he feels stronger than last year, especially in the mountains. He is afraid though that freshness will not be there at the tour because of all the hard work put in and thats why he decided to DNS in later stages of Dauphine and went to rest at home. He is supposed to be recovering until thursday and then put some finishing touches in a build up by competing in Poland's National Championships. No other races before Tour after that.

He also mentions that its hard to predict how stage 5 will play out, but having Paris-Roubaix winner with him definetely adds confidence and that confidence is extremely important in stressful stage like that. So far he has made reconessaince of stages 8,9,10 and he likes the designs, especially for stage 8. In other unsurprising news he regrets there is only and ITT and no TTT. Also, Michal realizes there will be days during which he feels week and just hopes he is able to overcome that liek he did last year.

When answering question about a role in the team he said that he feels he didnt do enough yet to earn the position in which others will work for him, and that he likes to work for Cavendish, since it is not very tiring for him and he feeds of Cavs' energy and desire to win. Also, in other part of the races Mark works for him and its a shame its not noticed.

He's been saying this all year, but apart from Puig Major I haven't noticed any improvement on longer climbs.

If he does well in the hilly stages in the TDF but flops in the mountains then he/OPQS might be convinced to change focus next year. That's what I hope anyway.

 

[damian13ster]

He's been saying this all year, but apart from Puig Major I haven't noticed any improvement on longer climbs.

If he does well in the hilly stages in the TDF but flops in the mountains then he/OPQS might be convinced to change focus next year. That's what I hope anyway.

I agree with you. So far his training and schedule seems to be kind of a hit or miss and he said so in the interview that he is still discovering his limits and finding out what works best for him. I personally am very curious how he will do in the tour. You might be right that it can be defining moment in his career (although if he fails I think he will give altitude training a shot and only if that doesnt work he will become a rider for clasics and 1 week races). I cant wait for July!

 

[HappyLoser]

So OPQS is not pulling him out of the Tour? What a stupid decision.

Agreed. He should win Tour of Poland instead.

It's pretty obvious, that Kwiatkowski is just too heavy to become a supreme climber. He needs to loose a lot of weight but it's a serious decision to make.


OPQS is a TT/classic team. They start learning how to create a GT rider (Kwiatkowski during the Tour), so they have to be sure that he is a right guy to do such experiments.

 

[Akuryo]

A nice piece about the flower man from inCycle where he explains (again), why he works for Cav in the lead out.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Kwiatkowski is already on the brink of Grand Tour TOP10 (see last years TdF). Obviously he does not have the phisique of Quintana and Contador but soon he could become a very decent climber (like Evans for example) who can limit his mountain losses (and remember his TT skills). Definitely he has the potential for TOP5 or even TOP3 at the Tour in a few years time. But for now his chances look bigger in classics. It's up to him on what he decides to concentrate and he still has time. Remember it's easier for a powerful (and not too massive - 68 kg) time trialist to become a better climber than vice versa.

 

[fgrune]

Krzysztof_O

How do you see Kwiatkowski doing in this years tour? The problem with him lacking form being talked about, taken into account.

cheers

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Well, it's harder to say in his case than in case of many other cyclists. I will cheer for him but I'm rather not an optimist (at least not for GC). His wattage may be good again but I see some problems for him in the third week (Pyrenees). It's obvious that some preparation mistake was made by him or by his team. Maybe he will lack enough fuel for 3 weeks of racing. Add to it his work for Cav and we may see him cracking in the third week. I hope he gets some stage win. As for GC he will take it day by day.

 

[Marco Pantani]

I think hes going well again.

Wednesday afternoon, the maillot jaune might be his.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I agree. Good third place for Kwiat. And Cav's withdrawal can be also positive for Michał.

 

[hfer07]

I can foresee Kwiat with the MJ on stage 8

 

[murali]

watch out in the cobbles.

today's third means tht kwiato is in good touch.
i think he is not tht fatigued now.

since he doesnt have to work in stage 3 & 4, stage 5 will be very interesting. i expect him to wear yellow sooner than stage 8.

 

[rghysens]

watch out in the cobbles.

today's third means tht kwiato is in good touch.
i think he is not tht fatigued now.

since he doesnt have to work in stage 3 & 4, stage 5 will be very interesting. i expect him to wear yellow sooner than stage 8.

I can't see him outperform both GVA and Sagan.

 

[Broth3r]

Wouldn't be surprised if he was pretty ****ed at Lefevre right now. He was barely given any support for this Tour, and now the reason for that lack of support is gone after a single stage.

I guess Golas, Bakelants and Martin will be able to provide him some support, but that's it. Massive sprinter trains are costly. And I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the season, the cost would be losing Kwia himself.

 

[murali]

I can't see him outperform both GVA and Sagan.

I cant see them outperform Trepstra.


Plz, Kwiato has among the best teams in medium stages.
Tony Martin is in a very good shape. trentin can power up normal hills. bakelants is riding ok.
Renshaw and petacci can work in flatter parts of the course that usually come in the initial part of the stages. in bigger mountains, he will always get trains of other teams


Kwiato will wear the white jersey at the end of the tour.

 

[gunara]

I can't see him outperform both GVA and Sagan.

Not both, but if Sagan has problem, at least one rider can always outperform GvA, it could be him

Btw, what support will Kwiat likely get in the whole tour, especially after Cav's gone? Does the team really trust him for the high mountain/GC placing anyway? Or just for selected stages? I dream of seeing him with Vuelta-only GT schedule some times,maybe it's uncommon, but with his always hectic February-June schedule, lack of high climbs in the Vuelta, and his chance for any kind of Worlds parcour, it could be reasonable shot once in a while. It's not as if anybody really sees him as a real GC contender who's obliged to make a difference in either Giro or Tour anyway, I won't mind a Tour without him these days, but a Vuelta with fresh Kwiatkowski will be fun.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Not both, but if Sagan has problem, at least one rider can always outperform GvA, it could be him

Btw, what support will Kwiat likely get in the whole tour, especially after Cav's gone? Does the team really trust him for the high mountain/GC placing anyway? Or just for selected stages? I dream of seeing him with Vuelta-only GT schedule some times,maybe it's uncommon, but with his always hectic February-June schedule, lack of high climbs in the Vuelta, and his chance for any kind of Worlds parcour, it could be reasonable shot once in a while. It's not as if anybody really sees him as a real GC contender who's obliged to make a difference in either Giro or Tour anyway, I won't mind a Tour without him these days, but a Vuelta with fresh Kwiatkowski will be fun.

72.BAKELANTS Jan
73.GOłAś Michał
75.MARTIN Tony
76.PETACCHI Alessandro
77.RENSHAW Mark
78.TERPSTRA Niki
79.TRENTIN Matteo

It will be down to a combination of Bakelants and Martin at the business end. Probably not much support when it really matters, but Kwia won't be the one making the race, he has to follow wheels anyway.

 

[gunara]

72.BAKELANTS Jan
73.GOłAś Michał
75.MARTIN Tony
76.PETACCHI Alessandro
77.RENSHAW Mark
78.TERPSTRA Niki
79.TRENTIN Matteo

It will be down to a combination of Bakelants and Martin at the business end. Probably not much support when it really matters, but Kwia won't be the one making the race, he has to follow wheels anyway.

Thanks, I see, it's not like he'll be having seven Poelses and facing Topsport in the mountain anyway.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Thanks, I see, it's not like he'll be having seven Poelses and facing Topsport in the mountain anyway.

Yep.

Some of the issues are mechanical problems and mental strength in case he gets dropped early on a climb. In both case he could be alone or least without team mates.

 

[murali]

mechanical is the main pblm.

if Kwiato is getting dropped, he will not be alone. whoever is in tht grp can help him.
I think he will be more concerned abt limiting losses in tough stages.

yest stage shows tht he will always be in the main selection. he just have to worry abt bardet.

 

[Baldwin]

I have seen the discussion and I reckon you may be interested in reading this:

http://rowery.org/2014/07/04/michal-kwiatkowski-the-biggest-pressure-comes-from-myself/

Kwiatkowski spoke about the Tour and problems with preparations in June.

 

[maxmartin]

Wouldn't be surprised if he was pretty ****ed at Lefevre right now. He was barely given any support for this Tour, and now the reason for that lack of support is gone after a single stage.

I guess Golas, Bakelants and Martin will be able to provide him some support, but that's it. Massive sprinter trains are costly. And I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the season, the cost would be losing Kwia himself.

Bakelants cannot stop smiling after he learned MC was gone!!!

 

[Akuryo]

Bakelants cannot stop smiling after he learned MC was gone!!!

He is just like Porte, who is smiling after Froomes crash. If OPQS puts down the hammer tomorrow they could possibly distance the Dawg with his injured wrist.

 

[pigoonse]

Michal Kwiatkowski, wow.

Is he just a really nice guy or what? Seems so self-less the way he is a team player. Really like him, but wishing he would win a stage

 

[murali]

tomorrow's stage finish looks very interesting.

reminds me of LBL. wont mind another 3rd if Sagan is 7 seconds behind him