Katarzyna Niewiadoma

Katarzyna Niewiadoma
	Niewiadoma at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships
Personal information
Born	29 September 1994 (age 30); Limanowa, Poland
Team information
Current team	Rabobank-Liv/giant
Discipline	Road cycling
Role	Rider

Katarzyna Niewiadoma (born 29 September 1994) is a Polish racing cyclist for Rabobank-Liv/giant.^[1]

Early years

Niewiadoma started racing bikes with local club WLKS Krakus BBC Czaja and soon emerged as one of the most promising women riders in Poland. In 2013 she won two national U-23 champion titles, finishing 4th in both elite time-trial and elite road race. She also finished 5th in European Road Championships in women U-23 road race.

Following these performances, she received an offer from professional team Rabobank-Liv/giant and became a stagiaire in August 2013. She participated in Boels Ladies Tour, finishing 10th overall and winning young rider classification. Niewiadoma was also selected for the UCI Road World Championships but she didn't finish the elite women's race.^[2]

Professional career

Niewiadoma signed one-year contract with Dutch team in October 2013 and made her debut in professional ranks in February 2014. She took her first victory four months later, winning Swiss race GP Gippingen.

Preparing for Giro d'Italia Femminile, Niewiadoma participated in Polish National Chamipinships, taking bronze in elite women time trial and finishing 8th in the road. Her climbing abilities proved to be an asset for Rabo-Liv team, as she worked for final victory of Marianne Vos on mountain stages in Italian Alps. She finished 11th overall and 3rd in young riders classification, marking a successful debut in the biggest race of elite women calendar in her first year as a professional.

Niewiadoma then went on to take her first podium spot in a stage race - together with Anna van der Breggen and Vos she dominated racing during 1st edition of Ladies Tour of Norway and placed 3rd, winning best young rider classification and best climber standings.

In September, she signed a two-year contract extension with Rabo Liv team and concluded preparations for World Championships with the start in Premondiale Giro della Toscana, placing 8th overall. On a hilly route in Ponferrada she lead Polish team in women elite road race, coming to the finish in 11th place after a sprint from selected group.^[3]