As Michal Kwiatkowski heads into his fourteenth uninterrupted season on the World Tour, the Polish cyclist, currently 33, shows no signs that his career is nearing an end.
“Actually, I’ve been a professional for a long time, but I don’t think about it much. For me, each new season is a challenge, year after year, I would get bored here”, said the INEOS Grenadiers cyclist in conversation with Eurosport.
“I’m older and this is a challenge for me. I believe that age is not a reason to give up and say to yourself: I’m not 20 anymore.”
Tour de France again as a goal
The former world champion achieved a stage victory in the Tour de France in 2023. This season, the main objective will again be the Tour de France, however, he must also be part of the Polish team at the Olympic Games.
“This is a very important year for me. Participating in the Tour de France and at the same time preparing for the Olympic Games will be difficult to balance. This is also my plan for next season”, he assesses.
“Of course, there is also the World Championship at the end of September. However, the main motivation will be directed towards the Paris games. This thought is probably on every cyclist’s mind.”
“It’s also good that next year’s Tour de France will look a little different to usual. It doesn’t end in Paris, but in the place where I train every day, that is, in Nice. The summer, i.e. July and August, but also September, will be crucial for me.”
End of career?
“After my professional contract ends (Kwiatovski has a contract with INEOS until 2025), I would like to spend more time with my family. Will I continue cycling? I don’t know. I definitely want to do what I didn’t have the opportunity to do or what I didn’t do during my career,” concludes Kwiatkowski when asked about his post-career plans.
“It’s an important thing, but I haven’t thought about it yet. When I am about to end my career, I will talk about my intentions.”