Last year, Michał Kwiatkowski emerged as a one of the most talented riders of his generation, and arguably the most versatile one, but this season his talent fully exploded. He has proved it once again at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco last week, where he was surpassed only by seemingly unstoppable Alberto Contador, and now turned all his focus to Ardennes classics, even more suitable to his characteristics. Despite his young age, the 23-year old Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider has maturity, experience and courage to excel on the hilly parcours for puncheurs, but acknowledges that he still needs to work hard and make everyday’s progress to fulfill his dreams and become the best.

Kwiatkowski rode impressively in the Ardennes classics and his Tour de France debut last year, but didn’t manage to claim his first victory as a professional. It has changed significantly, however, as the young Pole won Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana at his season’s opening Mallorca Challenge, only to continue in the same line at the Volta as Algarve – taking victories in general classification and two stages in the process, Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico opening team time trial.

Then, the 23-year old Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider learned an important lesson, losing over six minutes and leaders jersey to Contador on a very bad day in Italian mountains, but Polish champion kept on believing that it’s not possible to go out of shape in only two days. Even though bad weather conditions forced him to pull out of Milano-Sanremo, Kwiatkowski bounced back at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco last week and eventually finished runner up following another of his strong show offs at the individual time trial.

The 23-year old Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider admitted that, despite the stiff competition, he enjoyed his debut in the Basque Country, as he has been warmly welcomed by the local crowds following his stint at the Caja Rural and had very positive recollections from some of the stages from the times when he was living in Alsasua.

“It’s a special feeling because I rode for Caja Rural and lived in Alsasua. From the first stage I received great support from fans screaming my name. I was really surprised by the amount of crowds gathered along the road and really enjoyed racing here. In the early stages, I have also known parts of the route because it was where I trained in 2010 and it was very nice,” Kwiatkowski told Biciciclismo.

“Fighting against them [Contador and Valverde] is really difficult. Some days I’m able to challenge them but in the other I can’t follow their wheels. I cannot give up, however, because I know that a lot of time still has to pass before I will surpass them. I train to become better and increase my level every day, to compete against such champions.”

Even though Kwiatkowski targeted the general classification at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, the hilly event in the Basque Country was intended to be his last preparation ahead of the season’s first important objectives – Ardennes classics. He also pointed out that, despite Liege-Bastogne-Liege being one of cycling monuments, all three hilly events are equally important for him and the Polish rider would cherish a victory in any of them.

“My goal in the Pais Vasco was to finish within a top ten, general classification mattered to me a lot, mostly because it meant that I have recovered after Tirreno and Sanremo, and everything is going well again. I didn’t prepare for the Basque Country exclusively because I had undergone a very specific training ahead of Ardennes classics: Amstel, Fleche and Liege,” Kwiatkowski explained.

“I like all three. I still need to make a lot of progress in Liege because I raced it only twice. Last year I did very well both Fleche and Amstel, but I was too tired in Liege to really contest it. This is a monument. It would be great to fight with the best, but first I’ll try to stay in contention in all three.”

Despite following a very busy spring schedule, Kwiatkowski will not enjoy much of a break after Ardennes classics as he intends to ride the Tour de Romandie before starting his preparations towards his second Tour de France appearance.

“I will do the Tour de Romandie as it is a race suitable to my characteristics, even though probably I won’t be at my one hundred percent there. This season started later for me and I think I have more power remained in my legs to tackle more races before going for a break. The yes, I will rest.”

“Surely, I will do reconnaissance of some Tour de France stages first, and my programme will be very likely the same as last year: Dauphine, Nationals and the Tour de France. The novelty will be riding the Tour de Pologne following the change of its date, which suits me very well. I really want to ride in my country,” Kwiatkowski revealed.

“Last year I finished 11th so this year I will try to finish as high as possible in the general classification again. But you never know and you cannot forget that I will ride my only second Tour.”