After two disappointing years with the Movistar team, Sylwester Szmyd feared that his career had come to a premature end. Now he has signed a contract with the CCC Polsat team where he will be one of the leaders.

One of the most experienced Polish riders, Sylwester Szmyd joins the Professional Cycling Team CCC. He has spent most of his professional career in the WorldTour and has finished all three Grand Tours.

He turned pro in 2001 when he signed a 2-year deal with Tacconi Sport. Later he was riding for Saeco, Lampre, Liquigas and the last two seasons Szmyd spent with the Spanish Movistar team. Due to exceptional work ethic he consistently improved his skills, becoming one of the best domestiues in the peloton.

His first and only professional victory came at the Criterium du Dauphine where he won the mountain stage to the legendary Mont Ventoux. He is well known for helping the leaders in the Grand Tours.

In addition to his triumph on the Mont Ventoux, he has a 4th and 5th place in the Japan Cup  (2004,206), 7th in Giro dell’Emilia (2007) and 5th in Giro dell’Appennino (2008) on his palmares. He was twice on the podium in mountain stages at the Volta a Catalunya (2012) and in the same year Szmyd finished 3rd in Giro del Trentino and 7th in Tour de Romandie. As a Movistar rider, he took 3rd in Vuelta a Castilla y Leon.

Szmyd has finished all three Grand Tours – Giro d’Italia (11 times), Tour de France (4 times) and Vuelta a Espana (7 times). His best result is 14th in the Vuelta.

"I’ve very often been asked for how long I want to race," he says. "Every time I have replued that my dream is to participate in a Grand Tour with a Polish team. CCC has big aspirations to join the best teams in the world. If it doesn’t happen this season, it might in the upcoming years and my dream may come true.

"I’m very excited about racing for a Polish team which takes part in big events like the Volta Catalunya, Amstel Gold Race, Tour de Suisse, Tour de Pologne and competes against the best riders. After spending so many years in foreign teams, putting on the jersey of a Polish squad is something special. As a CCC rider I will have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. I have a lot of fire and motivation and I still enjoy cycling greatly. It’s not time for me to end this great adventure."

Piotr Wadecki, DS of the team, counts on his experience and professionalism.

"For our young riders in Poland and for our team, he can be a good example to show where hard work and consistency can take you. For 14 years he was working for his leaders and he became one of the best in the world for his job. If CCC gets a chance to participate in one of the Grand Tours, he could be the leader of the team," Wadecki says.