Kwiatkowski to Race in Rainbow Stripes for First Time

October 1, 2014 – Omega Pharma – Quick Step has announced the rdiers that will participate in Il Lombardia, a 248km one-day race on Sunday, the 5th of October, and it includes the newly crowned World Champion, Michal Kwiatkowski. The final cycling monument of the 2014 season includes climbs such as Madonna del Ghisallo (8.58km, 6.2% average gradient, 14% max ramp), Colle Gallo (7.43km, 6% average gradient, 10% max ramp), Passo di Ganda (9.2km, 7.3% average gradient, 15% max ramp), and Berbenno (5.5km, 5.3% average gradient, 10% max ramp).

OP-QS PR/Yuzuru Sunada

In the final 5.2km of the race there is a short uphill section of 7.9% average gradient and a max ramp of 12 percent. There is also pavé in this final climb. There is then a descent into a flat finale. This Sunday will also be the first time that 2014 UCI World Road Champion Michal Kwiatkowski will wear his rainbow jersey for OPQS.

“The last days were a little bit hectic,” Kwiatkowski said. “I went home after a great welcome at the Warsaw airport. My family and my girlfriend were there, along with many journalists and supporters. It was really nice to meet all those people and see how huge cycling has become in Poland. To be honest I still have to realize what I did. I’m still in shock, even now. When I think about that race, after the finish I was really confused because it was so incredible. It’s like when you dream during the night and then everything comes true. It’s something I am still processing. The last days of my life have been completely different than before. It’s really nice and I probably will realize what I’ve truly done when I wear the rainbow jersey at the start of Il Lombardia. About Il Lombardia, I’ve never been able to finish it. I got sick last year the night before the start. So with this jersey, I at least have to do better than last year (laughs). To me it’s beautiful to show my jersey for the first time in a monument. Let’s see what I can do considering all the great emotions I’ve had in the last days. Of course I will try to do my best to honor the race and the jersey.”

Riders
Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)
Gianluca Brambilla (ITA)
Michal Golas (POL)
Michal Kwiatkowski (POL)
Wout Poels (NED)
Pieter Serry (BEL)
Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL)
Carlos Verona (ESP)

Sports Director Davide Bramati (ITA)
Brian Holm (DEN)

Length 248.0 km