Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) got his 2014 season off to the perfect start when he took  a beautiful solo win in the hardest race of the Challenge Mallora, Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana. Having had a perfect winter, the Pole is now ready to chase more success in the next races.

Kwiatkowski has started his season off strong in Mallorca, winning Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana solo after just three days of racing in his legs. The stage, which featured brutal climbing including the Category 1 Puig Major in the finale, was dominated by the Belgian team.

New signing Petr Vakoc started the day in a breakaway that stayed away for much of the stage. Kwiatkowski attacked, catching Sergio Henao (Sky) who was trying to bridge, and the duo caught the group with Vakoc in the final kilometres. Kwiatkowski went on solo, having as much as a 28" advantage with just two kilometers remaining and hardly losing any ground in the finale.

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) finished 2nd, 27" back from Kwiatkowski. Francesco Gavazzi (Astana Pro Team) was 3rd.

"I am really happy because my victory repaid the hard efforts of the teams in the first two races," Kwiatkowski said. "We didn't win, but we were always in the front and fighting. Today we didn't really control the race but the entire day we stayed at the front.

"Immediately after the start Vakoc went into the breakaway. The first two hours of racing were hard. But, Petr stayed in the first group and at that point we could take it easy behind. Then before Puig Major, Team Sky pulled to try and catch the breakaway. We stayed in the front with basically the whole team. When we started Puig Major we didn't really set the pace. We stayed on the wheels of the other teams. When Sergio Henao attacked alone, (Pieter) Serry started to pull and the rest of the team helped him.

After 7 kilometers of the climb I attacked and caught Henao. We then worked really well together and caught the breakaway at 7 kilometers to go. When we caught them, Vakoc did a great job for me. He basically helped me and I was able to launch my attack at about 6 kilometres to go on the false flat at the top of the climb. Then I went full gas on the descent. I know the descent really well, so for me it was an advantage. I arrived alone and it is super nice when you can raise your arms in the sky for the win. It's a great feeling and I am very happy about it."

Kwiatkowski had a highly successful 2013 season that included excellent results in the Ardennes classics and the Tour de France. His win sets him up for an even better 2014 season.

"This is my first race of the season and I already have a victory," Kwiatkowski said. "I am really motivated. Everything worked well during the winter and training camps, so I am also motivated because I am healthy and happy about my job. In 2014 I have only been at home in Poland for two days. For the rest I was training or racing. So I am looking forward to the next races in 2014 with big morale, and when you can start with a good victory it is even better."

OPQS riders Gianluca Brambilla, Vakoc, and Pieter Serry finished 4th, 5th, and 6th in the race. It is the third straight day of victories in two different races for the team as they are also dominating the Tour of Qatar so far with wins for Niki Terpstra and Tom Boonen. Terpstra still leads the GC and points competition, and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck wears the White Pearl jersey for best young rider at Tour of Qatar.