Over the next few days, I will be reviewing the cycling season that was. If you missed it, I already ran down the team of the year. Today is rider of the year.
5 Mark Cavendish (HTC-High Road) – Seven Grand Tour stage wins, the Tour de France Green Jersey and the Rainbow Jersey for winning the World Championship. Cavendish had an incredible year and confirmed himself as the absolute best sprinter in the world. Once he got going after a slow start, Cavendish was rarely beaten in any sprints he contested.
4 Tony Martin (HTC-High Road) – Despite all of Cavendish's success, he wasn't even the most omportant part of his team. Tony Martin won seven races this season including overtaking Fabian Cancellara as the king of the time trial. This season, Martin won the time trial at Paris-Nice to win the race overall, won the time trial at the Criterium du Dauphine, won the time trial at the Tour de France, won the time trial at the Vuelta a Espana and then finished it off with a Rainbow Jersey in the World Time Trial championship.
3 Cadel Evans (BMC) – Tour de France champion guarantees a spot on this list and normally would be ranked higher, but Evans didn't contend in any major classic this season (remember that he has won Fleche-Walloone and a World Championship) nor did he even ride another Grand Tour. That said, his accomplishments beyond his Tour de France victory are still quite good: overall wins in Tirenno-Adriatico and the Tour of Romandie. Also a second place finish at the Criterium du Dauphine.
2 Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) – Why is the rider who finished fifth in the Tour de France ranked in front of Evans in the year end rankings here? Simple, his Giro d'Italia victory was completely dominating and had he shown up at the Tour de France with that form, he would have destroyed Evans and the rest of the field. Contador also managed to win a couple of early season Spanish stage races as well.
1 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) – Is there any other choice? Gilbert won 17 times this season including winning Liege-Bastogne-Liege to cap off an unprecedented Ardennes triple (the only previous Ardennes triple winner was the obviously doped up and later caught Davide Rebellin). Additionally, Gilbert won a Tour de France stage, the Clasica San Sebastian and GP Quebec. Just a dominating season from start to finish.
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