Born in Chełmża, he grew up in the town of Działyń in Dobrzyń Land. At the age of 11, following in the footsteps of his older brother Radek, he decided to take up cycling. He won nearly all there was to win in youth cycling, becoming the European mass start champion and the world time trial champion.
In 2010, he left Poland after signing a contract with the Caja Rural team. He proved his enormous talent riding for Omega Pharma-Quick Step, becoming an expert in classic races. In 2014, he became the individual world elite mass start champion. A year later, he signed a contract with Team Sky, considered the Real Madrid of cycling.