When the 2014 season started, everybody knew Michal Kwiatkowski was talented – but few expected the phenomenal start to the season he has enjoyed. His first WorldTour victory is just another step on his rapid rise to the top – which has already this season included Volta ao Algarve and Strade Bianche victory, two Ardennes Classics podium places and two days in the leader’s jersey at Tirreno-Adriatico.

New team-mate Rigoberto Uran was expected to lead Omega Pharma-Quickstep’s Grand Tour charge, but the Colombian former Team Sky man has been well and truly usurped by Kwiatkowski. Third in the youth classification at last year’s Tour de France, Kwiatkowski has shown he has what it takes to compete in a Grand Tour. Now he needs to prove he has the legs to mount a serious overall challenge – fading at Tirreno-Adriatico being the only slight negative to his name this season.