Katarzyna Niewiadoma

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 the elite time-trial and elite Road race. She also finished 5th in European Road Championships in the women's 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 the Boels Ladies Tour, finishing 10th overall and winning the young rider classification. Niewiadoma was also selected for the UCI Road World Championships but she didn't finish the elite women's race.

2014

Niewiadoma signed a one-year contract with the Dutch team in October 2013 and made her debut in professional ranks in February 2014. She took her first victory four months later, winning the Swiss race GP Gippingen. Preparing for Giro d'Italia Femminile, Niewiadoma participated in the Polish National Championships, taking bronze in the elite women's Time trial and finishing 8th in the road. Her climbing abilities proved to be an asset for Rabo-Liv team, as she worked for the final victory of Marianne Vos on the mountain stages in Italian Alps. She finished 11th overall and 3rd in the young riders classification, marking a successful debut in the biggest race of the elite women's 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 the 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 led the Polish team in the women's elite Road race, coming to the finish in 11th place after a sprint from the selected group.

2015

In her second year as a professional Niewiadoma shined as one of the best young riders in the peloton, giving Poland results it has never had in history of women cycling. She once again demonstrated her climbing abilities with 6th place in the inaugural edition of Strade Bianche Donne and 5th in the prestigious World Cup race La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. She also took a podium spot in the Dutch race Boels Rental Hills Classic, finishing behind Elizabeth Armitstead and Emma Johansson. In June she won Emakumeen Euskal Bira, a five-day stage race in Basque Country, and took silver in the elite women's Road race at the European Games. Despite being only 21 Niewiadoma started season's biggest race - Giro Rosa - as one of Rabo Liv's leaders. She quickly assumed lead in young riders classification and hold on to the top places on the mountain stages. She then clocked 5th time on a demanding route of stage 8, 21.7 kilometer long Time trial, and climbed up to 4th overall with just one mountaintop finish to go. Long climb to San Domenico di Varzo proved decisive and Niewiadoma crossed the line in 7th, finishing 5th overall, winning white jersey for best young rider and celebrating Anna van der Breggen's overall success. With those results under her belt Niewiadoma led the Polish national team at European Road Championships in Tartu and took gold in women U23 Road race, bridging to the leading group on the last lap and claiming the sprint ahead of Italy's Ilaria Sanguineti and fellow Rabo Liv rider Thalita de Jong. She concluded the season during World Championships in Richmond, being a part of a Rabo-LIv squad that secured bronze in team Time trial event. She also led Polish team in elite women road race and sprinted to 7th place.