If anyone would be tempted to determine a list of keywords in order to create the shortest summary of the past season, it certainly could not miss epic battles between young Colombians and Poles in the biggest races of 2013. As for Carlos Betancur (AG2R), Rafal Majka (Saxo - Tinkoff) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar), also for Omega Pharma – Quick Step’s Michal Kwiatkowski it was a breakthrough year.

Already regarded as one of the greatest specialists against the clock of his generation, this year Pole revealed a potential to fight for a victory in the classics and most challenging stage races. Although the World Championship with Team Omega Pharma - Quick Step has to be considered as a culmination of his season, other results like finishing 2nd in Volta a Algarve, 4th in Tirreno - Adriatico, being twice in the top 5 in Ardenne classics and finishing 11th in the Tour de France where he led the youth classification for several days, are also impressive.

Kwiatkowski, chosen 4th best among young riders by votes of cycling journalists in Velo d’Or 2013 award, in an interview for Polish Radio 3 Channel, admits that the results are not a big surprise for him. He points out that the possibility to prepare comfortably and without too big pressure to the key races in the calendar, played the most important role.

"Of course, I tried to prepare for the season as I could. The Tour de France was a bit of a question mark, eventually I’ve appeared in the roster. I wanted to give my best and I'm glad that so it happened. "

"After the Ardennes classics I had the comfort of preparation. I said earlier during a build-up that I was preparing for the Tour de Pologne, but it turned out differently and I was ready to ride the Tour [de France]."

The young Pole also notes that a specific structure and way of managing Omega Pharma - Quick Step team have played important parts of his successful campaigns. Thanks to favorable circumstances very often he was given a free hand and thus was able to play his own cards in numerous races.

"Omega Pharma – Quick Step has this characteristic that we focus on cyclists, who on a given day or in a given races, are in the best condition."

"Mark [Cavendish] even helped me during certain stages, and many others. Tony Martin helped too, they all helped me in many, many times and we complement one another, depending on the situation on the road."

Kwiatkowski also believes that the influx of talented riders of various nationalities had a positive impact on the previously rather hermetic Belgian team, and transfers for the 2014 season only seem to deepen the recently initiated trend.

Although Kwiatkowski admits that in this year's Tour de France victory in the youth classification was beyond his reach, he values his performance in the race in the context of the gained experience and optimistically refers to the possibility of improving his climbing skills.

"Nairo was out of reach, as we all have seen it in the mountains, I felt it on my own skin personally. But I do have reserves, and I know what I need to work on, because riding in the mountains is a key. You can lose a lot in the mountains, but you can also gain a lot there, so I hope that I’ll be able fight with him in the future. "

Although the season, which should be evaluated explicitly as a very successful, lacked stage wins or victories in one-day races, Kwiatkowski does not show signs of impatience. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of building his strength and confidence step by step, and believes that regular work must eventually bring tangible success. So for him, and for the rebuilt Polish national team.

"This year it was all played out as if to centimeters, there were many third and second places, many in the top ten, so you need to be patient. It's a matter of time. "

"First of all I want to make progress in relation to this year’s results, and I know that I have to work really hard in order to achieve this goal. In sport anything can happen, but I'm focused on my work and now I'm thinking of course of the 2014 season. "

"I'm not afraid to win, I'm not afraid to do everything possible to win. I do not surrender before the clash.”