After more than four months away from racing, Michal
Kwiatkowski made his return to the peloton at the Clasica San Sebastian on
Saturday. The 35-year-old INEOS Grenadiers rider placed 89th in his first
appearance since abandoning stage five of Tirreno-Adriatico on March 14. A knee
injury had kept him sidelined since then, following a frustrating DNF at Strade
Bianche and an early season win at Clasica Jaen that promised more. His time
away was longer than expected, shaped by misdiagnosis and weeks of uncertainty.
“4½ months later… I’m finally back at the start line. I’d
never been through anything like this in my career. A stubborn knee pain turned
my life into a mental roller-coaster: nine weeks of fighting the pain and
hunting for answers. One day you feel on top of the world, the next you wonder
if it’s the end of the road.”
Initially believed to be related to a crash, the source of
his pain turned out to be biomechanical. That breakthrough only came after an
extended period of trial and error, during which his frustration mounted.
“After a long battle we finally traced the problem to a biomechanical issue –
not the crash and it’s fallout like we first thought. Huge thanks to my coach,
our physios, doctors, and every single member of INEOS Grenadiers.”
Kwiatkowski, who has won two Tour stages and the rainbow jersey
in his career, was quick to credit the support network around him for getting
him through what he described as one of the toughest periods of his career.
“You never let me fight alone. And to my family – this was tough for all of us.
“Agata, you were always by my side and gave me the best support I could ever
dream of. Without family and friends, moments like this are hard to get
through. This injury taught me patience and reminded me, how much the small
wins matter.”
Looking ahead, the former world champion is eager to make
the most of the second half of the season, with his home race in Poland next on
the calendar and the Vuelta a España a potential target. “Now I’m hungry for
every race number I pin on. San Sebastián done Next up: racing at home in
Poland, in front of Polish fans, that’s special. And if everything goes to
plan, the Vuelta a España and a strong finish to the season are waiting. Thanks
for sticking with me. Let’s keep this story rolling.”
4½ months later… I’m finally back at the start line.
I’d never been through anything like this in my career. A stubborn knee pain turned my life into a mental roller-coaster: nine weeks of fighting the pain and hunting for answers. One day you feel on top of the world, the next… pic.twitter.com/9fE5DQiDab
— Michał Kwiatkowski (@kwiato) August 3, 2025