Racing

A Year in Review: the five best sprinters of 2014

Who's top of the class after another high-octane season?

Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano)

Who was first to the line in 2014? (Pic: Tim de Waele/OPQS)
Andre Greipel salutes another Tour Down Under victory as he enjoyed plenty of early-season success (pic: Sirotti)
Mark Cavendish still earned 11 wins in 2014 despite an injury-hit campaign (pic: Tim de Waele/OPQS)
Nacer Bouhanni left FDJ.fr despite earning five Grand Tour career stage wins (pic: Sirotti)
John Degenkolb bagged four stage wins on his way to winning the Vuelta's green jersey in 2014 (Pic: Sirotti)
You can work on you race-winning sprint at the same time as aiding recovery (Pic: Sirotti)

Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano)

German sprinter Marcel Kittel made the UK and Republic of Ireland a home from home in 2014, storming to victory in Belfast and Dublin at the Giro d’Italia, Harrogate and London at the Tour de France, and the capital once again and Liverpool at the Tour of Britain.

The Giant-Shimano fast man found plenty of success elsewhere, too, registering 13 victories in all – including six at Grand Tours.

Kittel emerged from the 2013 season as the man to beat having picked up four stage wins at the Tour de France and, despite a below-par Tour Down Under, was quickly into his stride with a hat-trick of wins at the inaugural Dubai Tour.

Kittel had to wait a little longer for his first WorldTour win but he thrilled fans on the Emerald Isle with two in two days at the Giro d’Italia.

However, Kittel’s crowning glory came at the Tour de France as he pulled on the yellow jersey in Harrogate after winning stage one, before going on to claim another three victories, closing the Tour with his second consecutive win on the Champs-Elysees.

Marcel Kittel in 2014

Race wins: 13
Grand Tour stage wins: Giro d’Italia x2, Tour de France x4
Champagne moment: Out-sprinting Peter Sagan to claim the Tour de France yellow jersey in Harrogate – the second consecutive year the German has pulled on the maillot jaune on the opening stage.