Michal Kwiatkowski takes sensational victory at Strade Bianche 2017
The Pole recaptured his old form by beating Greg Van Avermaet, Tim Wellens and Zdenek Stybar to the line in Siena
Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) recaptured his old form as he stormed to victory at the 2017 Strade Bianche with a solo break.
The Team Sky man broke away from a leading group of four with 12km to go and managed to establish a maximum gap of 30 seconds over Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing), Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) and Zdenek Stybar (Quick-Step Floors).
>>> Strade Bianche 2017: As it happened
Once he was away on the final sector of gravel, there looked no stopping the 2014 Strade Bianche winner as the three behind struggle to pull together to close him down.
He crested the final climb to Siena's square to take caution around the wet corners after rain had battered the race through much of the day, and took time to celebrate as he rolled towards the line; his first victory since E3 Harelbeke last year.
Behind, Van Avermaet was able to continue his strong run of one-day results, taking second ahead of Wellens in third and Stybar further back in fourth.
How it happened
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Jose Gonçalves (Katusha), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Simone Andreeta (Bardiani), Truis Engen Korsaeth (Astana) and Quentin Jauregui (Ag2r La Mondiale) formed the main breakaway of the day, getting away relatively early on in the day.
But they were never able to get much more than three minutes in the relatively short one-day race with several chase groups developing within the final 100km that quickly closed them down.
Andreeta was the first to call time from the break, and was quickly dropped approaching the closing 50km. The others ploughed on, but several attacks from big name riders behind had started to see a major chase group form that sat only 20-30 seconds behind them right into the final 40km.
The main chase group behind swelled to 12 riders, with the likes of Van Avermaet, Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), Wellens and Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal), Stybar, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Scott Thwaites (Dimension Data) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) among them.
Other pre-race favourites like Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac), had both already abandoned by this point with illness and mechanicals respectively.
Kwiatkowski showed strength throughout the day particularly working to bring the break back, and the catch was eventually made at around 35km to go.
Despite Dumoulin also looking strong, he and most of the others that had managed to grab on to the lead group could do nothing to stay with Kwiatkowski, Van Avermaet, Stybar and Wellens when they went clear shortly after 25km remaining.
Orica-Scott pair Chris Juul-Jensen and Luke Durbridge made big efforts to try and bring the foursome back, but the situation remained the same and allowed Kwiatkowski to make his race winning move, adding a second victory to his 2014 win at Strade Bianche.
Results
Strade Bianche 2017 (175km)
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, in 4-42-42
2. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC, at 15s
3. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 17s
4. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick-Step Floors, at 23s
5. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Sunweb, at 1-26
6. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-Scott, st
7. Chris Juul-Jensen (Den) Orica-Scott, at 1-29
8. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 2-20
9. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ, at 2-23
10. Scott Thwaites (GBr) Dimension Data, at 2-52
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Is your bike the noisest in the bunch? 13 steps to a silent ride
A quiet bike is a joy to ride, so here's how to banish unwanted noises - what to check for, how to fix it and why you shouldn't ignore what your bike is telling you
By Tim Russon Published
-
Cycplus Tiny E-Pump AS2 Review - an electric alternative to CO2
Small enough to fit in your pockets, it inflates to 100psi with a 200-second usage per charge
By Paul Grele Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I don’t know': Not even Tadej Pogačar could explain his incredible Strade Bianche attack
The Slovenian was so dominant on Saturday that everything seems hyperbolic
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar cruises to Strade Bianche victory after 81km solo attack
Slovenian wins by almost three minutes in Siena after dominant display in Tuscany
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotte Kopecky storms to Strade Bianche victory with stinging attack
Belgian beats Elisa Longo Borghini to take her first WorldTour win in the rainbow jersey
By Tom Davidson Published