Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep)
Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep)
World champion Michal Kwiatkowski is down to lead Etixx-QuickStep at Paris-Nice having finished second behind Geraint Thomas at last month’s Volta ao Algarve.
The Polish ace, still just 24, will be keen to swap the rainbow bands for the yellow jersey but he will need to excel on the race’s longer climbs. Only Richie Porte was faster than Kwiatkowski on the Malhao climb at the Volta ao Algarve – albeit a more sedate ascent than the Chaubouret – and he can certainly hold his own.
If he comes away from that stage having not lost any time to his major rivals then he will become one of the men to watch for the overall – particularly given the strong support he is to be granted in the likes of Michal Golas, Matteo Trentin and Tony Martin.
This will be Kwiatkowski’s first taste of Paris-Nice after two years riding the Tirreno-Adriatico at this time of year. Last year, his hopes of challenging overall in Italy evaporated on the Guardiagrele ascent while he was in the yellow jersey but Kwiatkowski is a year older, a year stronger and keen to record a first victory in the rainbow stripes.