Józef Kaminski kicked of the season by, yet again, winning the Tour Down Under. This was soon to be followed by a win in Tirreno-Adriatico. Conor Tudor never really reached his potential, but he did pick up a certain legacy left behind by the Manx Missile when he won Milan-Sanremo. Only a few riders have won all three Ardennes Classics in one year, but many have gotten two out of three. Kaminski managed the feat again, showing he had kept his form from earlier.
Shane Scott is a familiar face to those who have a fondness for the Giro d'Italia, who after this year's race have now taken four wins in 5 years. Even though he's in his early thirties, many are expecting him to equal the record, or maybe even breaking it.
Alexander Schwarz had a somewhat disappointing season last year, but now he proved the critics wrong by taken a 2nd Tour de France, and with last years winner Helbig finishing just behind, the German invasion of France can be said to be complete. Helbig was able to keep his form on top for the rest of the season, taking a 3rd win in San Sebastian, a new record, aswell as winning the Vuelta A Espana ahead of Yeray Ballesteros. Ballesteros now has an unprecedented 7 top-2 finishes in as many years, that being 3 wins and 4 second places. With the record being painfully close, those 2nd places might come back to haunt him…
A special mention goes out to Negassi Tekle from Eritrea who took both Vattenfall Cyclassics and Quest-France Plouay. We've seen several good results from Eritrea these last few years, the only African nation to claim top results in what is a very much European-/North American-dominated sport.
France, a nation that has only provided us with sparce results during the later years, had a good start with Valet and Bourdon winning both Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, whilst Motte made it at 1-2 in the latter race. Motte has not had the success that many thought he would have, but late in his career, he has become a well-known face on the podium.
Someone who seems to be having great success early on is this year's breakthrough comet Stefan van Leeuwen. In his first year as a pro, and being only 22 years old, he won every major cobbled race with the exception of Paris-Roubaix and took the Eneco Tour. If he follows in this style, great things are sure to follow.
A while back, we witnessed the "Colombian Era" of cycling. They have been struggling to fill the void left by Betancur, Uran, Henao and Quintana, but with Soto and Pajuelo getting a 1-2 in the Giro that gap is at least a bit smaller. Shane Scott was leading on, but took a nasty fall that forced him to retire from the race, meaning that his 5th win will have to wait for another year. We might not be seeing another Colombian golden age just yet, but it is better than nothing. Someone who is enjoying a bit of a golden age is Germany with Schwarz winning the Tour de France for a third time, making it four wins in 5 years for the nation.
Józef Kaminski has been a force to be reckoned with lately and this year he really outshone himself. He has allready shown he can certainly triumph in the weeklong races, but by winning the Vuelta aswell as the World Championship, he has proven himself as a real all-rounder.
Navarro Muñoz watches as Kaminski and the red jersey attacks
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
On more serious note, love the thing that almost in every career, some fantasy Serbian rider appears and becomes one of the best climbers in the world.
Actually, that guy isn't so good at all. I think he only had something like 75 in both MO and HILL last time I checked, so how he did that... I've got no idea.
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
If any nations stood out this season, it might have been Spain and France. Two of cyclings most prolific countries haven't been spoiled with too much success these last few years, but now they really got into the groove.
Spain had a great spring, winning the three first monuments. Also, Pascal Valet of France took both Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Paris-Nice. Last years breakthough star, Stefan van Leeuwen, failed to live up to the expectations he set for himself, coming away with only one win in E3 Harelbeke and a podium in Paris-Roubaix. With it he joins the club of young riders who have a phenomenal first season, but then wither away.
As the Giro approached, Zsolt Nagy of Hungary was determined to show that last years 3rd place wasn't a fluke. He went on to win the historic race, with three portuguese and two colombians following behind. The Tour saw Schwarz take his 3rd win in a row, making it four in five years, and many are now wondering if the great german can take an acclaimed 5th win.
It won't be easy as both seasoned veterans like Scott and Sousa and young stars of the future like McIntyre and Dologodin are breathing down his neck. Perhaps even Ralevic, who took 3rd in the Vuelta again, though it seems like the starting line-up in the Tour might be a bit too much for him.
Spain finished of their great year by taking a double in the World Championships, or pehaps a triple if you count in the U23-Roadrace. The big surprise of the year might be Shane Scotts failure in the ITT WC. The 5-time winner wasn't near the podium and had, all in all, a somewhat dissapointing season. Fun fact; up until last year, the US had won 8 of the last 11 timetrial world championships.
PS: Minor type; 3rd place in the U23-ITT is supposed to be Tim Hoeser, not Tom.
A bombshell struck this year. 4-time Tour de France-winner Alexander schwarz announced his retirement after the season. Being only 32 years of age, the descision came as a shock, especially with him still being regarded as perhaps the best stage racer in the world. Yeray Ballesteros also left us, leaving behind him a flurry of podium places in the Vuelta.
The descision to retire seemed even stranger after he won Paris-Nice with ease. The speculations soon died down as Yannik Gruber, Isroil Khamidullaev and Józef Kaminski all did unspeakable things to the spring classics. Stefan van Leuween had yet another dissapointing year. Being hailed as the best dutch talent in decades, he has yet to live up to his first season.
Shane Scott has made the Giro his second home lately and continued to thrive in the Italian mountains. He wrote his name into the history books by equaling the record with his 5th win. He is now the red-hot favourite to take a 6th win next year, but he is coming of age, so to speak and young riders such as McIntyre is coming fast behind.
Schwarz headed to his last Tour de France apperantly as motivated as ever. It was a very clos battle in the end, with only 11 seconds separating the 1st and 2nd place, but Schwarz came out on top again. With his 5th win he now is up there with Merckx and Betancur, but sadly we won't be seeing the great German ever again... France has only won 1 GT, the Giro, so far, but did walk away with one good thing this Tour; 11 french stage wins.
History repeated itself in the late autumn; in 2032 Kaminski won the Vuelta aswell as the World Championship ahead of Boschi with Scott winning the WC ITT. This year, 2034, Kaminski won the Vuelta aswell as the World Championship ahead of Boschi with Scott winning the WC ITT.
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
