If the torrential rain, howling winds, and general post-Christmas hangover are getting you down, fear not – the UCI WorldTour calendar kicks off in a little over two weeks time. 

For the cycling world, the new year means a new UCI WorldTour season to look forward to, and after the enthralling campaign we were treated to last year 2014 has quite a benchmark to follow.

So how can this year match 2013, a year that saw Fabian Cancellara dominate the cobbled Classics, Vincenzo Nibali crowned king of Italian cycling at the Giro d’Italia, and Movistar knock Team Sky from its perch as world’s number one ranked team, despite Chris Froome’s emphatic victory at the Tour de France?

We have picked out five moments awaiting us in 2014 which we are looking forward to most. The visit of the world’s biggest bike race to these shores gave us an obvious starting point, but our selections take in the spring Classics, the fate of certain riders, and the likely return of one of cycling’s blue ribband events to its rightful place in the spotlight.

Check them out over the following pages. What are the moments you’re looking forward to most this season? Share them in the RCUK Forum.