Michał Kwiatkowski facts for kids

Michał Kwiatkowski (born June 2, 1990) is a professional Polish road cyclist. He rides for a top cycling team called UCI WorldTeam Ineos Grenadiers.

Michał is known as a strong "all-rounder" in cycling. This means he is good at many things, like sprinting fast, riding against the clock (time-trialling), and climbing hills. These skills help him win different types of races, including "stage races" (races that last several days with different stages) and "one-day classics" (important single-day races).

He showed his talent early on, winning the World Junior Time Trial Championships in 2008. In 2014, Michał became the world champion in road racing for elite riders. He also helped his team win the World Team Time Trial Championships in 2013. In 2017, he won his first "Monument" race, which is one of the five most important one-day races in cycling, called Milan–San Remo. In 2018, he won the Tirreno–Adriatico and the Tour de Pologne, both big stage races. He has also won the Amstel Gold Race and the Strade Bianche twice each.

Michał's Cycling Journey

Starting His Career

Michał Kwiatkowski was a double European junior champion. He won the road race in 2007 and the individual time trial in 2008. In 2009, he became the national road champion in Poland for riders under 23. He also won a stage in a race called Okolo Slovenska.

He became a professional cyclist in 2010 with Caja Rural. In 2011, he joined Team RadioShack and finished third overall in a few races, like the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen and the Three Days of De Panne.

Racing for Omega Pharma–Quick Step (2012–2015)

2012: A Strong Start

In 2012, Michał moved to the Omega Pharma–Quick-Step team. He did very well in his first year, winning the opening part (prologue) of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen. He also finished second overall in his home race, the Tour de Pologne.

2013: Tour de France Debut

Kwiatkowski wearing the white jersey for the best young rider at the 2013 Tour de France. He held this jersey for ten days!

Michał started 2013 in great shape. He finished second overall in the Volta ao Algarve. Then, he came fourth overall in Tirreno–Adriatico and won the best young rider award. He was one of the strongest climbers there. He also did well in important one-day races, finishing fourth in the Amstel Gold Race. In June, he won the Polish National Road Race Championships for the first time.

His excellent performance earned him a spot in the Tour de France. He wore the white jersey, which is given to the best young rider, for many days. He finished 11th overall in his first Tour de France, which was a fantastic result.

2014: World Champion!

Michał Kwiatkowski on the podium after winning the 2014 UCI World Road Race Championships.

In 2014, Michał won the Italian classic race Strade Bianche. He attacked near the end and rode alone to win. He also finished third in two other big races, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and La Flèche Wallonne.

In September, he won a stage and took the leader's jersey in the Tour of Britain. He ended up second overall in that race.

Later that month, he made history by becoming the first Polish cyclist to win the UCI Road Race World Championships. Michał made a solo attack with about 7 kilometers left and held on to win the famous rainbow jersey.

2015: Amstel Gold Race Victory

Kwiatkowski, wearing the rainbow jersey as the world champion, at the 2015 Tour de France.

As the reigning world champion, Michał started 2015 a bit more relaxed. He used races like the Volta ao Algarve and Paris–Nice to get ready for the big classic races. He finished second overall in both of these warm-up races. In April, he won the important Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands. He sprinted past other riders at the finish line to claim this big win.

He had to leave the 2015 Tour de France during Stage 17.

Joining Team Sky / Team Ineos (2016–Present)

2016: First Cobbled Classic Win

In September 2015, Michał signed with Team Sky for the 2016 season.

On March 25, 2016, Michał won his first "cobbled classic" race, the E3 Harelbeke. He broke away with another rider and then outsprinted him to win. He also wore the red leader's jersey for a day in the Vuelta a España after his team won the opening team time trial.

2017: Monument Victory and Super Domestique

Kwiatkowski winning the 2017 Milan–San Remo by just beating Peter Sagan and Julian Alaphilippe at the finish line.

On March 4, 2017, Michał won the Strade Bianche again, making him one of only two riders to win it multiple times. Later that month, he won Milan–San Remo, one of cycling's "Monuments." He won a thrilling sprint finish against the world champion Peter Sagan. This was his first win in a Monument race. He also finished second in the Amstel Gold Race.

He was chosen for Team Sky's Tour de France team to support their leader, Chris Froome. Michał became known as a "super-domestique" (a very strong support rider) for his selfless efforts. For example, on one stage, he gave his own back wheel to Froome when Froome had a mechanical problem. On July 29, he won the Clásica de San Sebastián, another important one-day race.

2018: More Stage Race Wins

In February 2018, Michał won the Volta ao Algarve overall. In March, he also won the Tirreno–Adriatico stage race. In July, he again played a key support role for Team Sky at the 2018 Tour de France, helping his teammate Geraint Thomas win the race. A week after the Tour, Michał won his home race, the Tour de Pologne, by winning two stages and holding onto the lead.

2023: Another Tour de France Stage Win

Michał rode in the 2023 Tour de France and won Stage 13. This was another great achievement in one of the biggest races in cycling. In November, he ran the 2023 New York City Marathon with his wife, Agata.

Career Highlights

Michał Kwiatkowski has achieved many great results throughout his career. Here are some of his major wins and top finishes:

• 2007

* European Junior Road Race Champion * Second in European Junior Time Trial

• 2008

* World Junior Time Trial Champion * European Junior Time Trial Champion

• 2009

* Polish National Under-23 Road Race Champion

• 2011

* Third overall in Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen

• 2012

* Won a stage in Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen * Second overall in Tour de Pologne

• 2013

* World Team Time Trial Champion * Polish National Road Race Champion * Second overall in Volta ao Algarve * Fourth overall in Tirreno–Adriatico * Fourth in Amstel Gold Race

• 2014

* World Road Race Champion * Polish National Time Trial Champion * Won overall Volta ao Algarve (with 2 stage wins) * Won Strade Bianche * Second overall in Tour of the Basque Country * Second overall in Tour of Britain (with 1 stage win) * Third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège * Third in La Flèche Wallonne

• 2015

* Won Amstel Gold Race * Second overall in Paris–Nice (with 1 stage win) * Second overall in Volta ao Algarve

• 2016

* Won E3 Harelbeke * Won a stage in Vuelta a España (Team Time Trial)

• 2017

* Polish National Time Trial Champion * Won Milan–San Remo * Won Clásica de San Sebastián * Won Strade Bianche * Second overall in Volta ao Algarve * Second in Amstel Gold Race * Third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège

• 2018

* Polish National Road Race Champion * Won overall Tirreno–Adriatico * Won overall Tour de Pologne (with 2 stage wins) * Won overall Volta ao Algarve (with 2 stage wins) * Won 2 stages in Critérium du Dauphiné

• 2019

* Third overall in Paris–Nice * Third in Milan–San Remo

• 2020

* Won Stage 18 of the Tour de France * Fourth in World Road Race Championships

• 2022

* Won Amstel Gold Race

• 2023

* Polish National Time Trial Champion * Won Stage 13 of the Tour de France * Third overall in Tour de Pologne

Images for kids

• 

  Kwiatkowski at the 2021 Tour de France

See also

In Spanish: Michał Kwiatkowski para niños