How do you define greatness?
Terms like ‘legend’ are bandied around a little too often these days, but one British icon certainly merits such a title and proved it back in May with some stunning performances.
With the spring Classics now done and dusted, May was about one thing – the Giro d’Italia – and the first Grand Tour of the year lived up to the billing, with drama and excitement galore.
Pre-Giro, much of the focus was on Team Sky’s Tour de France champion, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and his bid for a second Grand Tour victory.
But it was a fellow Brit who stole the headlines – Mark Cavendish storming to the maglia rosa with a sprinting masterclass on day one before winning four more stages, including the 100th professional victory of his career, to top the Giro’s points classification for the first time.
Plaudits for the Manx Missile – who became only the fifth man to win the points classification at all three Grand Tours – came from far and wide, with a custom-made Specialized Venge among the prizes for his success.
Another Brit and former Team Sky man, Alex Dowsett, the national time trial champion, also had cause to celebrate as he marked his Grand Tour debut with an individual time trial victory.
We caught up with the man himself after the Giro as he celebrated his debut on the big stage.
Wiggins meanwhile saw his challenge for the top prize fade as crashes, injury and illness saw him abandon the cause with treacherous weather conditions playing their part.
Instead, Vincenzo Nibali defied the torrid conditions to storm to the overall prize – sealed with one of the finest victories of his career on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
With snow battering the mountain tops, Nibali dug deep into his reserves to attack his rivals on the steepest part of the climb and, legs screaming, powered his way through the masses of fans to solo to victory.
While snow was falling in Italy however, many were preparing for the summer and Sportful, De Marchi and MOA Sport were all among the companies launching their seasonal clothing.
With SRAM already having revealed their 2014 range of the flagship Red range would be equipped with hydraulic disc brake options, Mavic insisted they were not heading into the market yet – but one of their technicians was testing them in a personal project.
A celebration of the new, was also accompanied by celebrations of the old as Italian manufacturer Campagnolo celebrated their 80th anniversary in Vincenza. Company boss, Valentino Campagnolo, shared the secrets of the Italian brand’s success with RCUK.
Closer to home, May also marked the start of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, with Welshmen Yanto Barker and Jonathan Mould leading Team UK Youth to early victories.
Nigel Mansell’s team were to go on to scoop the overall prize, but their season ended with the news they were to fold after the team was unable to find a sponsor to replace the backing of the 1992 Formula One world champion.
Back in May, however, they were sitting pretty, with Rapha Condor JLT providing their biggest challenge after individual wins for Kristian House and Ed Clancy.
Although overshadowed by events in Italy, the Tour Series was nicely poised heading into June.
