While main Tour de France title contenders were restlessly riding up an down the volcano in May, attending high altitude training camps on Mount Teide, Etna or in Sierra Nevada, undeniably talented Michał Kwiatkowski took somewhat surprising and conservative approach to his own preparations, preferring to stick to proven methods while staying in Poland and previewing several stages of the French grand tour.

It certainly cannot be denied that these old and conservative training methods made the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider one of the greatest and most versatile talents of his generation, however, it has also been proven that altitude trainings significantly improve general condition, endurance and climbing skills of their participants – enough to mention Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) or Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). And that’s exactly what the 24-year old Pole needs to turn himself from incredibly skilled classics specialist into a future grand tour contender.

“I’ve never trained at altitude. Maybe I’ll do it later in my career, but right now, I’m sticking to what works,” said Kwiatkowski, 11th overall in the Tour last year.

“Have I tried an oxygen tent? No. I don’t know how altitude could help me or how I would react. It’s a risk to try something new before the most important race of the year.”

However, Kwiatkowski seems to be unaware that sticking to proven methods cannot be enough with an increasing influence of scientific approach on training in cycling, from which his biggest rivals do not refuse to benefit. The 24-year old Pole does not rule out attending altitude camps in the future, but insists that preparation period ahead of the season’s greatest objective, the Tour de France, is not the right moment for experiments. Instead of an altitude camp, Kwiatkowski stayed in the team’s hotel in Calpe, Spain, and travelled to France to recon part of next month’s race.

“If I were to try altitude training, maybe I’d go in August or at another point in the year.”

“I went home to Poland for two weeks and went seven days without touching my bike.”

Returning to competition at the Criterium du Dauphine, Kwiatkowski rode slightly disappointing opening time trial to finish 20th after he was considered a main favorite in the prologue, what was followed by rather encouraging showing in the mountainous second stage, where the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider was never able to match the strongest climbers but managed to reduce time loss by riding his own tempo on the final climb, Col du Beal.

“Froome has just one goal. He prepared specifically for the Tour and previewed even the Pyrenean stages,” said Kwiatkowski.

“I don’t compare myself to him. He’s at the same level with Contador. I’m on another level and I’m looking at my own progression. I believe in my chances and have support from the team.”