The young Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Michal Kwiatkowski won the Polish National Road Championship on Sunday, besting Adrian Honkisz (CCC Polsat Polkowice) and Lukasz Bodnar (Bank BGZ) out of an earlier escape group of almost a dozen riders.
This is the second straight year an OPQS rider has won the Polish Championship. Michal Golas was the 2012 winner for OPQS.
"It was an amazing day for me" Kwiatowski said. "First of all I want to say thanks to my teammate Golas, who really gave me a great hand today, and also to the staff here at the race. They were amazing the entire week!"
"Today it was an hilly course — not an easy parcour," Kwiatkowski continued. "We tried to control the race in the first part, and then in the middle of the race we started to attack but nobody let us leave. I don't know how many attacks I did without succeeding. Then in a flat part I suprised the group. I attacked and I managed to bridge to the breakaway. At that point with about 10km to go I made an acceleration and I remained with only two other guys. We collaborated very well and I won the sprint. I'm really happy, it's a dream for me. I want to dedicate this victory to my family, my girlfriend, all my supporters. They deserve it, they are always with me. It will be a kind of honour to ride with this jersey at the Tour de France. I can't wait to show it next Saturday at the start!"