Mike Kwiatowski
DOB: 02/06/1990 (24 Years Old)
Nationality: Polish
Race History:
TdF - 11th (2013)
28
Background:
Like Van Garderen, Michael Kwiatowski is another young rider who has burst on to the scene and shown huge amounts of potential over the last 2 years. With fans already getting bored of the Peter Sagan hype, Kwiatowski has picked up the baton for the next big thing in cycling having made a name for himself in last years Ardennes Classics and of course the Tour with a strong finish of 11th place.
Since then, the Pole has continued to establish himself as an exciting young prospect within the peleton and picked up top 5’s in all 3 of this years Ardennes Classics, took second overall in the Tour of the Basque Country behind Alberto Contador and has had six individual wins, including the Strade Bianche.
Strengths:
At 24, Kwiatowski is at the stage where he seems to excel in every aspect of cycling - similar to Sagan and Edvald Bossen Hagen did a few years ago.
The young Pole has super speed and uphill acceleration, making him a favourite for anything in the medium mountains that might finish with a bit of a climb.
However, it is a combination of his climbing ability and his ability in the time trial which he displayed fabulously in the Basque Country, that makes him a genuine contender.
Weaknesses:
With Kwiatowski being strong in all elements of bike riding, he may find himself getting trapped like Peter Sagan and becoming a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ and as a result, his profess may stall.
Of course, Kwiatowski looks like he could go on to win a grand tour, but if he really wants to be a firm favourite,