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Katarzyna Niewiadoma ready for Giro Rosa debut

19-year-old climber speaks about first professional win, national championships and Giro Rosa start.

It was a warm and sunny day in Swiss canton Aargau when Rabobank-Liv’s rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma attacked her breakaway companions on the climb and sailed away to the finish line of Frauen GP Gippingen. 30 minutes later she was celebrating her first professional victory, only 6 months after inking the contract.

It was just incredible, I still cannot believe I actually did it

– she admitted after the race.

5th in European Road Championships last year, Niewiadoma started her adventure with professional cycling and the Dutch team as a stagiaire in August 2013. She then went on to take best young rider jersey in Boels Ladies Tour and signed one-year contract, taking a spot among world’s very best women riders.

Today, she is in team’s outfit for Giro Rosa – the most prestigious race in women calendar. Most prestigious and hardest, at the same time. 10 days of racing in Italy, a prologue, three mountain finishes, with the big final on the slopes of Madonna del Ghisallo.

To be honest, I cannot wait to start the race. I know it is going to be a very tough, but I like challenges like this… I will test my body and see how far I can go

– Niewiadoma said in an interview before heading to Sobótka and Zawonia for Polish National Championships.

Our goal is to help Marianne win this race. Anna and Pauline will have their chances too, they are in brilliant shape. I may also get an opportunity, but this depends on the race situation and my condition. I am really looking forward to mountain stages. It is my debut, so I am focusing on helping my teammates

– Niewiadoma smiled.

19-year-old rider gained wider attention last year, finishing 4th in elite women road race and time trial during Poland’s road championships and taking two gold medals in U23 category. She also won Polish Mountain Championships in August 2013, outclimbing all rivals in elite women category.

Being on world’s best team for the first year, Niewiadoma’s primary objective is to learn and acclimatize herself in professional peloton. This, however, did not stop her from getting first results.

I have learnt so much in the first months. I was feeling more confident and stronger with every race I did. At the begining of the year it wasn’t possible for me to simply attack in a big race. As if something was blocking me. Today? It’s completely different.

Born in a mountain region of South Poland, Niewiadoma loves riding uphill and managed to show that in some of the races, staying in leading groups on every climb. She combines working for her teammates with getting some decent results in first months as a professional. 15th in la Fleche Wallonne Feminin, 19-year-old says she is developing all the time:

I am improving as a climber. I also learnt a lot about racing in the Netherlands. I don’t mind cross wind, echelons and cobbles now – girls have taught me how to race in those conditions.

niewiadoma-mp2014
Having recovered from small injury sustained after Swiss race, Niewiadoma participated in National Championships, finishing third on 20km route in Zawonia, winning gold in U23 ranks and bronze in elite women standings.

I am extremely happy with bronze medal in time trial, honestly, I wasn’t expecting this. I rode only one time trial this year, so I didn’t know how I can do againt the field in Poland

– Niewiadoma explained after the race.

Road race did not work out as planned – a breakaway managed to stay away, as Poland’s best riders decided to play waiting game. Niewiadoma attacked, trying to force opponents to work, but nobody followed and she only took bronze in U23 category.

It was disappointing, we were not working together. I did my best but the gap went up to 7 minutes and there was nothing I could do with all the girls sitting on my wheel.

picture credit: wowo brylla/rowery.org

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