Former Strade Bianche winner Kwiatkowski reveals INEOS plan, but: "We’ll see what Tadej has in store for us

Only three riders have won Strade Bianche multiple times. Fabian Cancellara holds the record with three victories, but aside from Tadej Pogacar, only one other rider has conquered the white roads twice—Michal Kwiatkowski. The INEOS Grenadiers veteran is set for his ninth appearance in Strade Bianche, and he’s looking forward to it.

Kwiatkowski won Strade Bianche on his very first attempt in 2014, when—at just 23 years old—he out-sprinted Peter Sagan and Alejandro Valverde in Siena, claiming his first title. Three years later, he won again, beating Greg Van Avermaet and Tim Wellens, who joined him on the podium. These are great memories for the Polish rider, but he doesn’t think they can be compared to today's race.

"That was a different time," Kwiatkowski told CyclingProNet when reflecting on his past victories in the Italian one-day classic. "The race has changed a lot since then. Now, we already hit a tough gravel sector after just 14 kilometers. Back then, riders like Cancellara could still compete for the win. With the current amount of climbing, that’s completely different. They’ve added more sectors, extra kilometers—it’s a much harder race, one that suits climbers more than classic specialists." Despite the changes, his motivation remains the same. "A lot has changed, but my drive to compete has always stayed the same. I still believe I’m at the level to fight for the win," said the 34-year-old Pole with confidence.

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Kwiatkowski on the Tuscan gravel roads

Kwiatkowski says the plan to beat Pogacar is clear

How does Kwiatkowski plan to fight for victory in Siena? "We’re mainly going to focus on our own race, like staying out of trouble," he explained, outlining INEOS Grenadiers’ strategy. Still, the British team will have to account for the overwhelming favorite. "We’ll see what Tadej has in store for us. He’s the best rider in the world and the biggest favorite for the win. We’ll have to adapt to his way of racing. We need to figure out how to be at our best and how we can win this race."

Even though Pogacar was rather cryptic about when he plans to attack, Kwiatkowski fully expects another long solo effort. "He’s not afraid to ride alone for a long time. That means his team will be working very hard in the hours leading up to his move. So, I expect a fast pace right from the start. Then, Tadej will make his move." According to Kwiatkowski, the Monte Sante Marie itself might not be the launchpad for Pogacar. "Wind doesn’t play a role when riders arrive there one by one, so I think Tadej will use the sector before it to go solo," the Pole predicted, outlining his expectation for Saturday’s race.

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