Michal Kwiatkowski — one of two young Polish riders on the team, with a very common Polish name — trained hard in preparation for success at KBC-Driedaagse De Panne -Koksijde. Kwiatkowski was hoping to build on his early season success, including a win at the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen prologue.
Unfortunately, a vicious bout of viral gastroenteritis the night before De Panne sidetracked Kwiatkowski's plans.
"It hit at 3 a.m.," Kwiatkowski said on Tuesday. "I was feeling bad and I didn't sleep. I was thinking before the race if I can go or not. I was asking myself 'can I do it?' I knew this race well, I was really focused on it and am really disappointed I can't do anything right now. I didn't start, and can't help the team."
Kwiatkowski will be sent home tomorrow to spend some time recovering.
"I'm really sad," Kwiatkowski said. "At the beginning of the season there was a lot of pressure to win, so I have to do my job and I should be OK. I go back to Poland for a week and then I can start training for the next races."
Two races he said he is targeting this season: Tour of Poland and the Polish national championship.
"If I can do well, I can go to the Olympics," Kwiatkowski said.
Kwiatkowski is enjoying the team's success so far, and hopes to contribute when his condition improves.
"The team has a great spirit and is very focused," Kwiatkowski said. "If we keep on going like that, it will be good."