Etixx – Quick-Step rider Michal Kwiatkowski won the Most Aggressive Rider Award after leading the race and only getting caught on the final half of the summit finish
![]() |
Team News – Podium for Kwiatkowski
Etixx – Quick-Step rider Michal Kwiatkowski won the Most Aggressive Rider Award of 195km Le Tour de France Stage 12, from Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille, on Thursday. He was selected for the award after entering into a large breakaway, going ahead with two other riders with 75km to go, and then pressing on alone on the HC Plateau de Beille (15.8 km, 7.9%) with 13.6km remaining in the race.
The peloton remained more than 10 minutes behind inside 12km left to race. The Polish rider of Etixx – Quick-Step emptied the tank on the final climb, but was unable to stay away on the steepest slopes. Kwiatkowski was eventually caught by Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), who initially chased with several other riders but attacked to bridge by himself, with 7.6km to go. Rodriguez went on to win the stage solo.
Kwiatkowski was not just impressive on the four steep climbs of the day. The UCI World Road Champion also used his descending skills to rejoin the original escape group of 22 riders earlier in the stage, and then distance most of the other former break mates in the final kilometers. Kwiatkowski went away with Georg Preidler (Giant-Alpecin) and Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL – Jumbo) at the 75km to go mark, but Preidler lost contact with 57.2km remaining. Kwiatkowski and Vanmarcke maintained a 1’04” advantage to the other breakaway members after the top of Cat. 1 Port de Lers (12.9km, 6%).
Eventually Vanmarcke was unable to contribute to the breakaway effort, and Kwiatkowski chose to press on alone in an attempt to get a fourth Tour de France stage win for Etixx – Quick-Step in the 2015 edition. Rodriguez, Fuglsang, and Bardet attacked each other repeatedly on the last climb before eventually splitting up in the successful pursuit of Kwiatkowski.
The GC group also attacked each other relentlessly on the final climb, but were unable to put much time into each other upon arrival.
Kwiatkowski has won the Most Aggressive Rider award twice so far at Le Tour.
Etixx – Quick-Step looks next to 198.5km Stage 13, from Muret to Rodez, on Friday. Thare are three climbs of lower category to ascend, with summits between kilometer 131 and 167, but there is also an uncategorized climb before descending into the finish.
“It’s a pity I couldn’t handle the power necessary to stay away on the last climb,” Kwiatkowski said. “It was really steep after a long day out front. Being caught 7.6 kilometers from the finish is too bad, but for me it was a bit unexpected to be in that breakaway in the first place. It was many guys and a lot of strong climbers. I think Sep and I did a great move to stay away from the pure climbers.”
“I think it was smart to be aggressive on the descent before the last climb and build the gap. We worked together well and I’m thankful to him. We played the best tactic possible for our skills. It was too bad we didn’t have enough of a gap to stay away. I couldn’t have done any better than what I did. The rain was even nice to cool off from the heat we dealt with all day, especially with the high temperatures we’ve also been dealing with in the last stages. I tried to fight until the end.”
“It wasn’t enough to win a stage, but I’m happy my performance is getting better and better each day. Congratulations to Rodriguez as he deserved the victory today. He was super strong and he is one of the best climbers in the peloton. I am happy I tried to go for the stage win. I have to be satisfied because you can’t win if you don’t try. It’s a wonderful feeling to do something like this and honor the rainbow jersey in a Tour de France stage”.
“I’m proud to wear it and hope people can appreciate my effort today. There’s still a long way to go to Paris. I’m motivated, the team is motivated, and for sure we’ll try again when there is an opportunity for Etixx – Quick-Step.”
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Features, Reports, Results
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Final
- News: Cycling Brands LTD to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Results: Rhyl CC Junior/Youth Circuit Races
- Crit Result: Evesham Velo Park Winter Races
- CX Result: NWCCA Season Finale
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Velopark) 14
- Crit Results: LVYCC Winter Races 2
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series #4
- Crit Result: Abingdon Race Team Winter Series 1
- CX Result: Western CX #11 (ShamCross)
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 12
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 4
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 3
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series 3
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League #4
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP #13)
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Hillingdon #6)
- CX Result: NWCCA CX League Round 9
- CX Result: London/SE CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd 13
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 11
- CX Result: East Kent CX League 5
- British Track Championships: Day 3 Report
- Track Results: British Track Championhip Results (para)
- Track Results: British Track Championship Results (M)
- Track Result: British Track Championships Results (W)
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
Other News on VeloUK
- News: Cycling Brands LTD to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series