Kwiatkowski nails first Classics podium in Flèche Wallonne
Pole third on Mur de Huy after two near-misses




Michal Kwiatkowski (168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Omega Pharma-Quick Step) steady progress towards a triumph in an Ardennes Classic took another significant step forward in 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:la Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday as he clinc꧋hed third 🥀on the Mur de Huy.
Already fifth in Flèche Wallonne last year and fifth in Amstel Gold last Sunday, Kwiatkowski brandished his first Classics bouquet as he stood on the pod✨ium of the Mur de Huy. Aged just 23, it is a reasonable bet that this will not be the last time the Pole takes a top placing somewhere in the Ardennes.
Kwiatkowski said he was quietly satisfied with his progress in the Belgian race, even though the first question he was asked in the press conference - had ဣhe made his move on the Mur too soon? - suggested some felt he might have miscalculated a little and played his cards a little early.
However, the Polish national champion preferred to take away the positives and signs of progress compared to his 2013 ride in La Flèche Wallonne, seeing his glass of Belgian beer as half-full, as it were, rather than half-empty - an upbeat attitude which the thousands of cycling fans downing their own glasses of amber nectar as they cheered the riders on the Mur d♏e Huy on Wednesday would surely approve.
"I was actually pretty smart on the Mur, I started the bottom exactly where I wanted to be and I kept my own pace. It was much better than last yearꦐ where I lost a few positions with 400 metres to go, this time I could maintain my speed🌃," Kwiatkowski said.
"I surprised myself, because Flèche Wallonne isn't a race that really ♉suits me, Amstel and Liège suit me better, but I'm still in good shape and able to fight for a t👍op result:"
He was guarded about his chances on Sunday at 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Liège-Bastogne-Liège, pointing out that last year after two top ten results in Amstel and Liège he had not done well there - finishing 92nd - and saying he would "look on it as a new experience." Still, less racing in his legs, too, in 2014 at this point in the calendar compared with 2013 and now a year older and stronger too, as he told Cyclingnews before the🐼 start, he feels he sh🌳ould be able to dig deeper come Sunday.
The latest race content, intervie🦂ws, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your ✨inbox!
"Last year’s Flèche was also promising for Liège-Bastogne-L൲iège and I couldn't finish wไell, but I think I'm recovering better after each race. It's a very tough race though. We'll see."
Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The Independent, The Guardian, ProCycling, The Express and Reuters.