Michal Kwiatkowski Thread

[Netserk]

Is there any chance he can hold on to the likes of Porte or Majka I'm the mountain stage to take out the GC. Lots of racing to go but his form last year showed he couldn't (was it Tierreno?) ,however he is a super strong rider uphill.

Huh?

http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=25716

Sure he cracked on the HC mountain the next day, but that is not what he is facing in France.

He will limit his losses well on stage 4, but I doubt he can keep up with Porte in the Eze TT, so he'll have to pick up (bonus) time on the two stages in between.

 

[Bexon30]

Huh?

http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=25716

Sure he cracked on the HC mountain the next day, but that is not what he is facing in France.

He will limit his losses well on stage 4, but I doubt he can keep up with Porte in the Eze TT, so he'll have to pick up (bonus) time on the two stages in between.

My memory fails! I would like to see him contest for the overall he seems focused enough. I do remember him really struggling that day but that was due to Contador and a ferocious display. I think he is still improving yet so can maybe become more of a force in a GT time will tell. A good challenge for guys like Porte and TJ this race.

 

[gregrowlerson]

This guy is incredible and continues to surprise. I think that he has a real shot at winning this Paris-Nice. The mountain top finish is not very steep, so could be within his limitations. He might be very strong in the mountain time trial.

Michal is just about the best rider in the peleton. Certainly for versatility. Like many I'm also keen to see if he can one day make a real mark in GC in a GT, but as it is, one week success, classics coups, and time trial terrificness makes him simply superb.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Looking really good this year. He can win one of the Ardennes races.

Not perhaps the bravest of predictions. He has finished top 5 in 5 of the last 6 Ardennes races!

 

[willbick]

prob the best all-round cyclist in the world at the mo. he can sprint pretty good, TT very good (especially prologue), climb with the best on all but big mountains, superb descender, is v consistent, knows how to win, and is with super strong team which always helps.

 

[phil-i-am]

Having won in polish national champion jersey today he took green, white and yet yellow, which means tomorrow he's not gonna ride in rainbow jersey. Seems he doesn't like the OPQS's kit or really likes to attire himself.

Kwia did really good job limiting his losses during first mountain stages at Tirreno 2013 and 2014 and paid for these efforts later. In this year's PN the next stage after Chaubouret should be not a problem though. I'm not sure if he can match Porte and Van Garderen in MTT but still, they should do everything to get rid of him before.

 

[dicanio_michael]

Is there any chance he can hold on to the likes of Porte or Majka I'm the mountain stage to take out the GC. Lots of racing to go but his form last year showed he couldn't (was it Tierreno?) ,however he is a super strong rider uphill.

From the past, he only lost time in mountain top finish which is a multi-mountain stage. This Stage 4 is not that steep and big for him, only 10k and 6.7%. I doubt he will even lost time to TJ and Porte. They are same type of riders. Majka though, but he is 36s away.

 

[Akuryo]

Having won in polish national champion jersey today he took green, white and yet yellow, which means tomorrow he's not gonna ride in rainbow jersey. Seems he doesn't like the OPQS's kit or really likes to attire himself.

Kwia did really good job limiting his losses during first mountain stages at Tirreno 2013 and 2014 and paid for these efforts later. In this year's PN the next stage after Chaubouret should be not a problem though. I'm not sure if he can match Porte and Van Garderen in MTT but still, they should do everything to get rid of him before.

 

[HappyLoser]

Not perhaps the bravest of predictions. He has finished top 5 in 5 of the last 6 Ardennes races!

Bonnen style.

I'm just wondering... why is he not riding P-R? He could really blow up this race.

 

[Netserk]

Bonnen style.

I'm just wondering... why is he not riding P-R? He could really blow up this race.

His team doesn't really need him and he would just exhaust himself for the Ardennes. E3 and Ronde could make sense, but he wouldn't be able to be in top form for them and the Ardennes. Perhaps in a few years he will ride those as well like Gilbert used to. I'm more looking forward to see him in MSR.

 

[Bushman]

Not perhaps the bravest of predictions. He has finished top 5 in 5 of the last 6 Ardennes races!

Wasn't really meant to be a bold prediction, just that I think he can go from competing to actually winning this year.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

His team doesn't really need him and he would just exhaust himself for the Ardennes. E3 and Ronde could make sense, but he wouldn't be able to be in top form for them and the Ardennes. Perhaps in a few years he will ride those as well like Gilbert used to. I'm more looking forward to see him in MSR.

Who are we talking about now? I don't follow

 

[Netserk]

Who are we talking about now? I don't follow

See the thread title

 

[Tom Darda]

OK, the media's been focused on Lil Ritchie and SKY, but can Kwiato actually pull this off in this year's PN? Great ride by him and Ettixx yesterday - it might have come as some surprise. Then again I checked his palmares and he actually placed 11th in TdF 2 years back. The guy seems unstoppable.

 

[phil-i-am]

Re:

OK, the media's been focused on Lil Ritchie and SKY, but can Kwiato actually pull this off in this year's PN? Great ride by him and Ettixx yesterday - it might have come as some surprise. Then again I checked his palmares and he actually placed 11th in TdF 2 years back. The guy seems unstoppable.

Yeah. Although he was a part of Cav train on pan flats and he fought with Degenkolbs and Sagans head in head on hilly stages he almost made it to top10 GC. Even more impressive considering the fact it was his first Tour de France.

I'm really impressed by his performance on Croix de Chaubouret. It's possible he'll be a factor in GT's in couple of years. For now he's peaking for ardennes.

 

[rghysens]

Re: Re:

OK, the media's been focused on Lil Ritchie and SKY, but can Kwiato actually pull this off in this year's PN? Great ride by him and Ettixx yesterday - it might have come as some surprise. Then again I checked his palmares and he actually placed 11th in TdF 2 years back. The guy seems unstoppable.

Yeah. Although he was a part of Cav train on pan flats and he fought with Degenkolbs and Sagans head in head on hilly stages he almost made it to top10 GC. Even more impressive considering the fact it was his first Tour de France.

I'm really impressed by his performance on Croix de Chaubouret. It's possible he'll be a factor in GT's in couple of years. For now he's peaking for ardennes.

His performnce on the Croix de Chaubouret wasn't better than his performances last two years on the MTF in Tirreno Adriatico (IIRC he took the leader's jersey after the first MTF on those two occasions). It's a sequence of multi-climb stages that are a problem.
For this years P/N, I don't see him hold Porte and Thomas off on the Col d'Éze TT.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

OK, the media's been focused on Lil Ritchie and SKY, but can Kwiato actually pull this off in this year's PN? Great ride by him and Ettixx yesterday - it might have come as some surprise. Then again I checked his palmares and he actually placed 11th in TdF 2 years back. The guy seems unstoppable.

He's impressive for sure, if his stage racing gets even better he can claim to be the best all-rounder in the peloton. I can't see him win PN though. The moutainous time trial will see Porte secure the victory.

 

[Poursuivant]

Anyone feel he has a good chance for MSR Victory? Surely Ettix won't put all their eggs in the Cav basket. Maybe it would be best to let Kwia attack on the final descent and if he is brought back, Cav is there to have a go.

 

[Netserk]

Their best bet is having everyone commit to help Cav, if he is feeling well before Poggio. No attacks, just everyone keeping things together. Kwiatkowski will be needed post-Poggio for Cav.

 

[phanatic]

Re:

Awesome photo. Calling him "Flowers" seem really appropriate now.

 

[Akuryo]

Now he has his first win in the Ardennes after coming very close the last two years. He is just getting better and better every year.

 

[SeriousSam]

Has he accumulated enough victories now such that he's more likely to end his career with better palmares than Sagan? :O

I kid, I kid,

 

[Netserk]

He should have a fair chance Wednesday, but I think there will be someone stronger than him there. Unfortunately waiting will probably be his best strategy to win Liege. I can't wait for something to change with that race.

 

[Mr.White]

Amstel suits him best. It's going to be harder for him in Huy and Liege

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

Amstel suits him best. It's going to be harder for him in Huy and Liege

He was 5th last year at Amstel and 3rd at FW and Liege ... just saying.