Michal Kwiatkowski of Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep claimed his first victory of the 2012 season at the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen 2012
The 66th edition of Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen 2012 was underway on March 2, 2012.
The first day of the three staged race was dominated by the Polish cyclist Michal Kwiatkowski of Team Omega Pharma-Quickstep.
He finished the 7 kilometre stage in the fastest time of 8 minutes and 43 seconds to grab his first victory of the new season.
Julien Vermote, Robert Thomas Wagner and Alex Rasmussen claimed the second, third and fourth positions, respectively
Julien was looking good during the race but could not get his guts together towards the end as Michal sailed across the finish-line with a lead of 4 seconds over him.
The 21-year-old was delighted after the victory and briefed that he was not expecting to climb the top podium position but somehow it happened and he is delighted to grab the first stage of the Belgian race.
He noted in a team’s press conference, "It's the best day of my life, I didn't expect to win today. I knew that I had the legs for a good result, maybe top five or top three, but not the victory. I'm over the moon".
Kwiatkowski had a good last season and achieved quite a few podium spots but struggled to claim the top position.
He finished third overall at the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Three Days of De Panne and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes and also finished second during the fourth stage o f the Tour du Poitou-Charentes 2011.
Michal briefed that his win during the initial stage of the race is his best performance yet and he will remember it for a long time.
"I'll never forget this moment, it repaid me for all the effort I did in the last weeks. I want to share this victory with all the people who have an important part in my life and of course this extraordinary team, a real band of brothers," he stated.
Kwiatkowski is now leading the overall classifications with a lead of 4 seconds over Julien Vermote and 10 seconds over Jesse Sergent.
With two more stages to go, Michal is definitely a strong contender to claim the top podium position on the final day of the Belgian race.
He is now eyeing the 181.5 kilometre chase to Kortrijk Bellegem on Saturday before the final stage on Sunday.
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