Cycling enjoyed another landmark year in 2013, with epic races, extreme weather, pulsating duels and yet more British success all combining to make it a season to remember.
Moment of the Year
Chris Froome's stage victory on Mont Ventoux on stage 15 of the Tour de France was not only the best moment of the year, but also one of the most memorable days in British cycling history. Froome became only the second man after Eddy Merckx to win on the fabled mountain while wearing the leader's yellow jersey and, in doing so, effectively won the race overall. The Briton produced a magnificent performance on the 21km ascent, first dropping arch rival Alberto Contador 7km from home and then leaving Nairo Quintana behind 1.3km out, as he climbed into Tour folklore. The win also carried historic significance, as he distanced Quintana on almost the exact spot where fellow Briton Tommy Simpson had collapsed and died 46 years and one day before.
Race of the Year
It would be so easy to say the Tour de France and Chris Froome's magnificent overall victory was the race of the year, but the cold fact is that it wasn't. The honour instead goes to the Tour's Spanish sister, the Vuelta a Espana. The overall lead changed hands no fewer than eight times over three pulsating weeks, mainly between Vincenzo Nibali, the favourite, and Chris Horner, the surprise package. The duo fought out a compelling battle over a brutal 11 summit finishes and went into the last of those, the legendary Alto de L'Angliru, separated by just three seconds. On slopes as steep as 23 per cent and in thick mist, Nibali and Horner produced pure sporting theatre as they attacked and counter-attacked each other all the way up the climb. In the end, it was 41-year-old Horner who got the better of his Italian rival and went to to win a Grand Tour that will live long in the memory.
Disappointment of the Year
Sir Bradley Wiggins had it all his own way in 2012, but in 2013 hardly anything went right for British cycling's favourite son. His main aim for the year was May's Giro d'Italia, and while he started solidly enough, things swiftly started to go wrong. He crashed and lost almost a minute and a half on his rivals on a rain-soaked seventh stage and with a knee injury later being compounded by illness, he was forced to abandon the race ahead of the 13th stage. He then turned his focus towards riding the Tour de France, but the after-effects of his problems at the Giro left him behind schedule in his preparations and he was consequently withdrawn from contention for selection for Team Sky's squad. He returned to action later in the season and won the Tour of Britain, but then had to settle for silver in the world championship time trial in Florence as another of his ambitions for 2013 went unfulfilled.
