Michal Kwiatkowski Thread

[Valv.Piti]

Really inspiring rider when he is on. Great attacking spirit! Really good if he is back on.

He should ride E3 and Flanders as well. I really hope Sky and himself do realise that.

 

[Gigs_98]

I really don't think he should ride the ronde. He was in the 3 men winning break last year and still finished outside to top 20 because he lost so much time on the cobbled climbs. The reason why he could win E3 is because there were no attacks on Paterberg and Kwaremont and because the last climbs weren't cobbled anymore so he attacked in a terrain which suits him as a guy who is great on hills.
He should rather 100% focus on the Ardennes week, because thats were he can really be at his best.

 

[sQiD]

Re:

Really inspiring rider when he is on. Great attacking spirit! Really good if he is back on.

He should ride E3 and Flanders as well. I really hope Sky and himself do realise that.

No Flander races this year. Maybe next year if he destroy everybody in AGR & LBL.

 

[sir fly]

He should be allowed to pick his targets.
He's a World champion and Sky doesn't have a reason to approach to the classics with strict hierarchy.

 

[Popchu]

I really don't think he should ride the ronde. He was in the 3 men winning break last year and still finished outside to top 20 because he lost so much time on the cobbled climbs. The reason why he could win E3 is because there were no attacks on Paterberg and Kwaremont and because the last climbs weren't cobbled anymore so he attacked in a terrain which suits him as a guy who is great on hills.
He should rather 100% focus on the Ardennes week, because thats were he can really be at his best.

The reason he was outside of the top 20 last year was not because he lost too much time on the cobbled climbs. Kwiatkowski should be able to ride on the cobbles with the best. It's not that 'riding on the cobbles' requires so much skills. He was just not strong enough last year, not in the cobbled classics, not in the Ardennes. Now we clearly see a different Kwiatkowski, or maybe I should say the 'old' Kwiatkowski.

If he focuses 100% on the Ronde, he could win it. But he made a good decision to just focus on the Ardennes this year. He still have many opportunities to come in the cobbled classics.

 

[Arked]

I really hope this is different training approach paying of. If so, we might see more of 'old' Kwiatkowski this year.

 

[HelloDolly]

I really don't think he should ride the ronde. He was in the 3 men winning break last year and still finished outside to top 20 because he lost so much time on the cobbled climbs. The reason why he could win E3 is because there were no attacks on Paterberg and Kwaremont and because the last climbs weren't cobbled anymore so he attacked in a terrain which suits him as a guy who is great on hills.
He should rather 100% focus on the Ardennes week, because thats were he can really be at his best.

The reason he was outside of the top 20 last year was not because he lost too much time on the cobbled climbs. Kwiatkowski should be able to ride on the cobbles with the best. It's not that 'riding on the cobbles' requires so much skills. He was just not strong enough last year, not in the cobbled classics, not in the Ardennes. Now we clearly see a different Kwiatkowski, or maybe I should say the 'old' Kwiatkowski.

If he focuses 100% on the Ronde, he could win it. But he made a good decision to just focus on the Ardennes this year. He still have many opportunities to come in the cobbled classics.

I agree re the RVV and I am not sure he can win the Ardennes except Amstel

I think the level of climbing in LBL is too much for him and his current weight
I also think the finish in La Fletche is maybe better for a few other riders like Valverde, Allaphillipe , Dan Martin

Now Kwait is back because he is stronger and bigger and as todays showed cobbles is where he should head

 

[Velolover2]

Team Sky already have Poels, Rosa and Henao for the harder Ardennes (Flèche, Liege). They don't need 6 captains.

He should race Dwars, E3, Flanders and focus on winning Amstel.

 

[portugal11]

If he wasn't so inconsistent, he could be the best classics rider i ever seen

 

[Velolover2]

He almost won Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2015. But did too much work and the another 3 riders were always looking at him.

If he is good on dirt roads, he should be fine on the smooth coobled climbs of RVV. Paris-Roubaix is another story.

 

[Arredondo]

Of course he's really inconsistent and mentally vulnerable, but at the age of 26, he's already won the Worlds, 2x Strade, Amstel and the E3.

I really want to be that inconsistent too!

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Of course he's really inconsistent and mentally vulnerable, but at the age of 26, he's already won the Worlds, 2x Strade, Amstel and the E3.

I really want to be that inconsistent too!

I don;t think he is inconsistent
Thrown off course at SKY .....happened to lots of riders

You seem to either get much better or much worse

 

[Mr.White]

I really don't think he should ride the ronde. He was in the 3 men winning break last year and still finished outside to top 20 because he lost so much time on the cobbled climbs. The reason why he could win E3 is because there were no attacks on Paterberg and Kwaremont and because the last climbs weren't cobbled anymore so he attacked in a terrain which suits him as a guy who is great on hills.
He should rather 100% focus on the Ardennes week, because thats were he can really be at his best.

The reason he was outside of the top 20 last year was not because he lost too much time on the cobbled climbs. Kwiatkowski should be able to ride on the cobbles with the best. It's not that 'riding on the cobbles' requires so much skills. He was just not strong enough last year, not in the cobbled classics, not in the Ardennes. Now we clearly see a different Kwiatkowski, or maybe I should say the 'old' Kwiatkowski.

If he focuses 100% on the Ronde, he could win it. But he made a good decision to just focus on the Ardennes this year. He still have many opportunities to come in the cobbled classics.

I agree re the RVV and I am not sure he can win the Ardennes except Amstel

I think the level of climbing in LBL is too much for him and his current weight
I also think the finish in La Fletche is maybe better for a few other riders like Valverde, Allaphillipe , Dan Martin

Now Kwait is back because he is stronger and bigger and as todays showed cobbles is where he should head

He was 3rd at Liege couple of years ago, out sprinted by Gerrans and Valverde. There's no doubt he could win it on a very good day (and when Valverde retires ) As for De Ronde, I'm not so sure, he should gain some extra weight for that I think... He's not a top contender in De Ronde, outsider yes, but he would need to be incredibly lucky to sneak away from Sagan, GVA, Terpstra, Stybar and co. Fleche is out of his reach, for now...

 

[Brullnux]

The 2014 race was the easiest and most abysmal Liege edition possibly in history. Matthews could have reached the finish at s/t or near enough.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I really don't think he should ride the ronde. He was in the 3 men winning break last year and still finished outside to top 20 because he lost so much time on the cobbled climbs. The reason why he could win E3 is because there were no attacks on Paterberg and Kwaremont and because the last climbs weren't cobbled anymore so he attacked in a terrain which suits him as a guy who is great on hills.
He should rather 100% focus on the Ardennes week, because thats were he can really be at his best.

By that same logic he can't ride hills because he sucked in the Ardennes as well? He was just weak last year, has nothing to do with he can't ride on cobbles. It simply comes down strength.

My reasoning is I think that Sky has enough firepower in the Ardennes as it stands and I don't think any of the races really suit Kwiatkowski that well. Fléche is Fléche, I think Liege is a bit too hard, Amstel a bit too easy.

Anyways, Kwito has the potential be win a wide variety of classics. He already has 4 big classics (basically the 3 biggest races outside of monuments - E3, Amstel, Strade x2) and the Worlds on his palmarés - he has potential to be the best classics rider in the world if he snaps out of his inconsistency slumps and totally forgets about stageracing and in particular GTs.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

The 2014 race was the easiest and most abysmal Liege edition possibly in history. Matthews could have reached the finish at s/t or near enough.

I remember him bridging alone on a strong group including Gilbert, Valverde, Nibali, Kreuziger, Mollema...

 

[damian13ster]

Just rewatched entire race. I said it before, and I will say it again - Kwiatkowski is one of the - if not THE- smartest riders in the peleton. His legs also don't look as stocky as they did in 2015-2015 imho so I am curious how he does in TA. This will be very telling on whether he has a chance in FW and LBL.

 

[Akuryo]

Just rewatched entire race. I said it before, and I will say it again - Kwiatkowski is one of the - if not THE- smartest riders in the peleton. His legs also don't look as stocky as they did in 2015-2015 imho so I am curious how he does in TA. This will be very telling on whether he has a chance in FW and LBL.

Not really. Just look at last year. He was good in February and March and then faded in April. Just like in 2014 (his monster year) where he faded at LBL after impressive races for the 2 month before that. He just is no Valverde who is basically in form for 8 month at a time ...
Kwiatkowski has his 1 maybe 2 month a season where he is almost unbeatable and sadly in recent years often that was too early for is targeted races. I hope he proves me wrong cause I really love to see him race. Like you said, he is incredibly race-smart. But his legs too often don't hold what his head is capable of. That is not only since his transfer to Sky. Even at QS he had sudden changes of form. So even a good TA won't mean a good classics campaign in April. He was 8th last year (although without the queen stage) and did NOTHING in the Ardennes ...

 

[damian13ster]

Just rewatched entire race. I said it before, and I will say it again - Kwiatkowski is one of the - if not THE- smartest riders in the peleton. His legs also don't look as stocky as they did in 2015-2015 imho so I am curious how he does in TA. This will be very telling on whether he has a chance in FW and LBL.

Not really. Just look at last year. He was good in February and March and then faded in April. Just like in 2014 (his monster year) where he faded at LBL after impressive races for the 2 month before that. He just is no Valverde who is basically in form for 8 month at a time ...
Kwiatkowski has his 1 maybe 2 month a season where he is almost unbeatable and sadly in recent years often that was too early for is targeted races. I hope he proves me wrong cause I really love to see him race. Like you said, he is incredibly race-smart. But his legs too often don't hold what his head is capable of. That is not only since his transfer to Sky. Even at QS he had sudden changes of form. So even a good TA won't mean a good classics campaign in April. He was 8th last year (although without the queen stage) and did NOTHING in the Ardennes ...

True, but I also remember one of his pre-season interviews in which he said that he learnt from the mistakes of the past (hitting form too early) and is going for the slower buildup this season in order to peak for Ardennes. Well, if he got it right and the peak will come in about a month.....we are in for a good classics campaign.

 

[damian13ster]

Seems like he is back to enjoying cycling. Showing attacking style, although not yet capable of finishing the moves (outside of Strade of course). Either the strength not yet there, or it will just not come.
Anyway, I expect another attack in MSR. Hopefully he gets himself an ally or two this time.

 

[Netserk]

With no sprinter on the team that is likely to be there in the end, Kwiatkowski should have the whole team help him toughen the race as much as possible. I expect him to invest 100% in a Poggio attack.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

With no sprinter on the team that is likely to be there in the end, Kwiatkowski should have the whole team help him toughen the race as much as possible. I expect him to invest 100% in a Poggio attack.

Viviani won't ride?

 

[Netserk]

Viviani won't contend for a podium place. I really don't see why he should be there in the end, nor how he should be among the 5 best to do so.

 

[Ikbengodniet]

I doubt Viviani will survive the poggio.

 

[barmaher]

I would be amazed if Viviani skipped MSR.