Summary: After a slow start in Australia, Henry Vergnaud wrote French cycling history by building up steadily to the Tour de France. In an exciting battle between himself, Froome and Valverde, the 24 year old climber finally brings the Tour back to France. Curing the country of the trauma that LeMond caused by taking Fignon with 8 famous seconds.

Summary: It's been a big month for Fabio Melani and his Colombia teammates. Jarlinson Pantano with a Stage Win in the Giro, and John Darwin Atapuma with a late resurgence to take a good GC position in the season's first GT were encouraging signs for the team. Fabio's final race before Le Tour was the Criterium du Dauphine, where he finished in an obscure GC position.

However, the Criterium wasn't a waste, as young Fabio was given some words of wisdom by a certain Vincenzo Nibali. Now the Tour has started. A dream for Fabio to win, he started off well with 3rd place early on, but the mountain stages haven't been kind so far. Can words from a young boy spark our hero to better things? Read and see!

Summary: Act 3... I can't summarize this in 150 words... Lets say it was a systematic, almost surgical, deconstruction of Karl's life from the highest moment and taking him right down to the edge. I can't sell you this story, you've got to go and experience it yourself.

Every scene is listed in the front post so it's easy to jump around and catch up. With the break in writing (and i need it) there is no better time to get into the story. Plus vote now will make up for the embarrassing Yearly Awards... Please...

Summary: Starting off with a ferocious three-way battle in the Vuelta this have been an eventful month for Novo Nordisk – SAS. Our home-bred rider Willy Ipsen went to Spain in top shape. Antón was there aiming for his 3rd win in a row, but lost a lot of time in the first week, while Henao took a lot of time on the hills. Willy proved strongest in the big mountains, but with a hilly last week he risked losing the jersey pretty much every day only just being able to hang on to a final win of just 25 seconds.

As if that wasn’t history-writing enough Edvald Boasson Hagen found his top level through helping Hushovd winning his final race as a pro. That resulted in Eddy being the first ever double World Champion, which he celebrated by winning Il Lombardia.

January became the month where the project reached its original target destination from 5 seasons ago!

Summary: Nathan Earle - "The Tasmanian Devil" or "Early" - did it! The premium climber and stage racer took out the NRS 2014 in style. Thanks to his outstanding performances on home turf (Mersey Valley, Tour of Tasmania), the 26 years old Huon Genesys-captain managed to hold off the entire competition. Suprising 2nd in the NRS this year was Robbie Hucker (Drapac), who overtook Mark O'Brien (Euride) thanks to a stunning victory of the legendary Grafton to Inverell classic.

There's now a short break in Australia's domestic cycling scene with the work behind the scenes taking control. But the Aussies will be back for the "Summer of cycling", kicking off with the Road National Championships. So we certainly will see Earle in action again, who just announced his move to World Tour-level (Team Sky)!

Summary: Chambula Dorji was a young, unassuming Bhutanese man contemplating life as a monk before he discovered cycling. At a precocious age he was snapped up by Team Sky after displaying immense maturity during last year's Tour de l'Avenir.

This plunged him into the impetuous jamboree that is the pro peloton, and, despite being initially confused at marvels of modern technology like the team radio; Chambula has settled in well to life at the team, despite already having disobeyed team orders and gotten on the wrong side of one of the DS’s through a simple misunderstanding!

Although with no results to show so far for his endeavors, ‘Champ’ came agonizingly close to the mountains jersey in Catalunya, his first World Tour race, after some daring and aggressive riding that very nearly paid off. More is sure to follow, as Champ looks to fully immerse himself in the bemusement that is cycling’s World Tour.

Summary: In Gora Euskadi!, we follow young Journalist X while he accompanies World Tour Pro Cycling Team Euskaltel - Euskadi through the season. The multi-layered story offers deeply focused race reporting, basque cycling fanaticism and personal, humorous touches.

Since its start in late November, the story has seen multiple highlights and low-points. While early season saw some surprises (e.g., Top 25 results by Ion Izagirre at the Flanders Classics), the team disappointed at the Ardennes and generally brought in very little victories. That was until Samuel Sánchez performed incredible well at Vuelta Ciclista a País Vasco and took his second win in a row at the team's home race. Afterwards he disappointed at Giro d’Italia though.

However, two Gorkas stepped in and saved the day with a total of three stage wins. With the latest wins of Mikel Nieve at Alpe d’Huez and Ion Izagirre’s win at Clásica San Sebastian (the first in Euskaltel's history!), Euskaltel – Euskadi seem to have retrieved their confidence back of the early days and have started recently a campaign to draw in new Socio members to show the world that this is just the beginning.

Summary: The first of its kind. The long awaited follow-up to the groundbreaking 2011-story! By only simulating the seasons and not interacting at all, the story records how the game-world develops as we move through time. Current legends retire, new ones are born and records are forever being broken, bringing the sport of cycling towards new heights.

Having reached 2024, we've seen Carlos Betancur equal legends such as Merckx and Indurain in the Tour de France, Tony Martin taking his 8th World Championship Time trial title and young newcomers starting to rival the established names in all sorts of terrain!

Forever innovative, forever groundbreaking, forever moving forward!

Summary: 16 riders, one goal. Although it may not seem everyone's dream to ride for a development team, every young cyclist wants to ride in the World Tour in the future. 16 young cyclists from all over the world have been given a chance in this development team for Vacansoleil.

The team has already shown itself among the pro peloton, and some riders already seem to be ready for the next step. A stage win in the first race put the team on the map, but the greatest victories were yet to follow. For more, the reports are giving you information.

Summary: Boring race tactics, doping allegations and 'boy racer' antics have given British cycling a bad name amongst the world's cycling fans... But it is time for a change! Time for a British team come onto the scene that everyone can be proud to be a fan of! It is time for Rapha-Bianchi Racing Team!

Sadly though, the team's first two months have not been the smoothest ride. One stage win, two KoM jersey wins and numerous podium finishes have been over shadowed by failed race goals, a disciplinary hearing for the Team Manager and a sponsor who are watching the team's future actions with a close eye.

Can the team get back on track, win over the Sponsors and be a team for all to love? There is only one way to find out...

The Hobbit wrote:
HONARABLE MENTION
OH YEAH!!!!!!!!
Congrats to the actual guys as well!

Jakstar22 wrote:
Mine ain't in there oh well. Next Month...

Mresuperstar wrote:

January's #PCMStoryOfTheMonth is currently decided by a single point! Voting ends tomorrow midnight EST!

— Mre (@Mresuperstar) February 7, 2014