ADAM BECKET

STAFF WRITER

BEST MALE RIDER

It was Tadej Pogačar. I could make a convoluted argument to try and justify a more leftfield pick, like Wout van Aert, but it just was Pog. His Tour performance was one thing, but to win Liège and Lombardia in the same season is just remarkable. It was his year.

BEST FEMALE RIDER

Annemiek van Vleuten changed teams and simply kept winning: 12 victories in her new Movistar jersey, and the Olympic Games ITT gold along the way. When will she stop?

WHO ELSE IMPRESSED?

I have already mentioned Van Aert, but he has shown again that he can do it all. On the men’s side, Van der Poel, Alaphilippe and Roglič were all up there. For the women, it was the Dutch again - Vollering, Van der Breggen, Wiebes...

BEST ONE- DAY RACE

Paris- Roubaix Femmes. The first edition lived up to the hype, and left us wondering why it had not existed previously. Lizzie Deignan rode a perfect race, giving the event the drama it deserved.

BEST STAGE RACE

Tirreno-Adriatico back in March had it all: Pogačar showing off his first flutterings of form and Van Aert, Alaphilippe and Van der Poel battling it out on the punchy stages.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Deceuninck- Quick Step are so far ahead of everyone else it is a joke. They won 65 races this year, 22 more than the next team, Jumbo-Visma. Bahrain Victorious surprised with their range of performances and wins.

RACING HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR

Stage 17 of this year’s Vuelta, where Bernal and Roglič were away on their own on the road to Lagos de Covadonga. The bravery of the attack and the skill to pull it off were remarkable.

MVP OF THE YEAR

It’s not a fresh thought, but Michael Mørkøv is great at leadouts. He was part of 19 wins for Deceuninck this season, helping both Sam Bennett and Mark Cavendish to victory in sprint finishes.

BEST NEW SIGNING

Demi Vollering looks like a perfect replacement for Anna van der Breggen at SD Worx, and they got a year of the pair riding together, which was very clever business.