Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Michal Kwiatkowski did all the right things in order to defend his yellow jersey in the 6th stage of Tour de Pologne on Sunday.
He made the front group when the peloton split, he stayed near the front, and he kept an eye on Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale), who was in 2nd place in the GC by a single second going into the stage.
Unfortunately, on the final climb to the finish, out of 10 classified in the stage, Moser attacked within the last few meters and pipped Sergio Henao at the line for the race victory. Kwiatkowski was there with Moser, but could not match his power to the line Kwiatkowski finished 3rd. Because of the race victory, Moser now leads the Tour de Pologne GC by 5" going into the final 131km stage on Monday. Kwiatkowski will try to get the yellow jersey back, with the support of his hard working teammates.
"The team did once again a perfect job" Kwiatkowski said. "I really had to thanks all my teammates for the big effort this week. It was so important to me to have them around me. to be honest I'm not disappointed about the race. I did my maximum, I only found somebody faster then my in this kind of final. I know that tomorrow I have only poor possibilities to try to win the race catching all the bonification. It's not easy but I will try."
Sports Director Rik Van Slycke is proud of what his team has done at the race.
"The team was great this week," Van Slycke said. "Kwiatkowski did a smart race surrounded by a great time. It's a pity that we lost Terpstra and Boonen. Their experience could have been important in the last stages. In any case the guys here were great. We can be really proud about the attitude of the team here in Poland."