Check out the highs and lows of the year and share your thoughts on cycling in 2009.
It has been a memorable 12 months with Lance Armstrong returning to the saddle and the formation of Team Sky. Rachel Griffiths takes a look back at the last year and picks out her leading personalities and top moments from 2009...
This year was not only a year for comebacks in cycling but also a season for new big names.
The obvious comeback kid was Lance Armstrong, bursting back onto the scene at the age of 37 after three and a half years in retirement to mark one of the biggest returns in sporting history.
Armstrong's reappearance was just one of a series of surprises in a rollercoaster season, which saw rising stars such as Mark Cavendish and Andy Schleck establish themselves amongst the highest profiles in the peloton.
On paper it could seem 2009 was owned by Alberto Contador and Astana, but it is impossible to ignore the new talent that has crept in and could be set to dominate next season.
Add the creation of Team Sky Pro Cycling and 2010 looks set to be one to remember.
Check out skysports.com's highs and lows of the year and share your thoughts on the cycling in 2009 using the feedback box below...
Rider of the Season
The year was dominated by outstanding performances, but top sprinter
Mark Cavendish showed consistency throughout. It would have been a safe bet, and arguably fitting, for skysports.com to award the title to Contador for his exceptional Tour de France victory, but Cavendish has demonstrated an unyielding determination all year which has seen him reaping the rewards of his efforts. Flying the flag for Great Britain, the Isle of Man rider made his first real impact of 2009 in the Milan-San Remo in March. Tracking down Heinrich Haussler in the last 200 metres, Cavendish slipped past his opponent to secure a nail-biting victory which has seen him hailed as the greatest sprinter in the world. The Brit continued his dominance throughout 2009, setting a new record for Tour de France stage wins by a British rider and also claiming stage triumphs in the Tour of Missouri and Tour of Ireland. Cavendish has earned his place as one of the most exciting riders in the peloton, and is certainly one to watch in 2010.
Team of the Season
Astana started off the year on a high thanks to the comeback of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, with his return made even juicier by the fact he was made joint team leader with fierce rival Contador. Astana battled through financial woes to record an extremely successful year, the highlight of which was Contador and Armstrong securing 1st and 3rd place in the Tour de France respectively. Finishing top of the UCI rankings, the team proved they are a force to be reckoned with, but with Armstrong riding for his new team Radioshack next year, it will be interesting to see if the Spanish outfit can maintain their winning streak.
Most Improved Rider
Cervélo rider
Heinrich Haussler seems to have come from nowhere this season, securing the biggest victory of his career so far by winning Stage 13 of the Tour de France. The Australian-born cyclist, who represents Germany, also claimed respectable second-placed finishes in the Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Qatar. While other riders such as Bradley Wiggins and Tyler Farrar have also made breakthroughs this year, it is Haussler who has well and truly left his stamp on the cycling world, with great things expected from him in 2010.
Moment of the year
Cadel Evans, while a worthy grand tour opponent, is not a rider usually known for late attacks, which made his last-gasp victory at the World Championships in Switzerland all the more exhilarating. The Australian cyclist began his opportunistic assault 5km from the end of the race at the foot of the final climb and found himself 30 seconds ahead of his chasers when he reached the top. Evans then surged for the finish, crossing the line for an emotional win that marked one of the biggest surprises of the year for cycling.
Lowlight
Italian
Danilo Di Luca was suspended following a positive doping test during this year's Giro d'Italia. The 33-year-old rider, who triumphed in the same grand tour in 2007, was involved in the scandal after winning two stages and finishing second, and now faces up to a three year ban as a result.
Best Performance
After riding 2,141 miles over three weeks,
Alberto Contador sailed down the Champs-Elysees to secure first place in the Tour de France for a second time. The Spaniard overcame challenges in the mountains, excelled in two time-trials and was triumphant in the first Alpine stage during his romp to victory. Contador claimed his win amidst speculation on his strained relationship with Astana colleague Lance Armstrong, silencing any doubt over who was the real team leader and solidifying his status as one of the greatest all-round cyclists in the world.
Year to Remember
Luxembourgian
Andy Schleck celebrated his most successful year to date in 2009, highlighted by his second place finish in the Tour de France. The 24-year-old also secured the Young Rider classification in the esteemed race and finished Stage 17 in third place behind brother Frank, who finished fifth overall. With triumphs in the Tour of Luxembourg and the monumental Liege-Bastogne-Liege also under his belt, the young rider has paved the way for the Schleck brothers to dominate in 2010.
Year to Forget
American veteran
Chris Horner suffered horrendous luck this season, with involvement in no less than four major crashes. The Oregan cyclist topped off his injury-plagued year when he was involved in a massive crash during the Spanish Vuelta, resulting in several injuries including a broken wrist. The Bend rider had previously injured a knee in the Tour of California, broke his collarbone at the Tour of Basque and broke his leg during the Tour of Italy. The 38-year-old will no doubt be hoping for a change of fortunes in 2010 when he joins compatriot Lance Armstrong at Radioshack.
Gone but not forgotten
Road cyclist
Frank Vandenbroucke died from a pulmonary embolism in October this year at the age of 34. The Belgian won 54 races after embarking on his professional career in 1993, celebrating his best season in 1999 when he secured success at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege as well as winning two stages of the Tour of Spain. The rider, who had retired earlier in the season, was described as a "super talent" by former coach Jose De Cauwer.
Contador vs. Armstrong
As one of the focal points of the season, it was impossible to ignore the fierce feud between Astana colleagues Contador and Armstrong. The rivalry was heated throughout 2009, but no more so than during the Tour de France when the gloves well and truly came off. The adversaries will be pitched against each other from different teams next season as Armstrong launches Radioshack while Contador remains with Astana, and judging by the American's long sideways glance at what could have been his prize as Contador lifted the Tour victor's bowl, the rivalry can only continue into 2010.
Bradley Wiggins joins Team Sky
One of the most exciting moments in 2009 came almost at the end of the year when cycling's worst kept secret came into the open with the announcement that Bradley Wiggins would move to new British outfit Team Sky next season. The Lancashire-based Olympian, who struck gold twice in Beijing in 2008, celebrated a successful year topped by his breakthrough fourth-place finish in the Tour de France. Wiggins' confirmation that he will "come home" for Team Sky builds a platform for what is set to be an explosive year for cycling in 2010.
