 In 2009, Szmyd scored the first victory of his career when he crossed the finish line atop the Mont Ventoux during the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré.He had broken away with Alejandro Valverde () and the pair finished together.Szmyd said afterward that he was so used to sacrifice himself as a "domestique" for his captains that his legs almost buckled in the last corner when he realized he would win.