Chris Froome (Team Sky) – Tour de France victory

What better place to start than with the man who flew the British flag on the biggest stage of all this year? Kenyan-born Brit Froome has been a revelation in 2013, storming to early-season victories at the Tour of Oman, Tour de Romandie, Criterium International and Criterium du Dauphine.

Froome was only beaten once in a stage race in 2013, with Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali pushing him into second at the Tirreno-Adriatico, and his performances were such he was awarded the Velo d’Or at the end of the year.

Froome’s crowning moment, however, came at the Tour de France. Having fired an early warning shot with a bold but brief attack during the second stage to Ajaccio, Team Sky’s leader patiently bided his time for the rest of the first week. Then, on the summit finish of Ax 3 Domaines, he blew the race apart with a devastating acceleration to solo to stage victory and he never looked back.

An equally explosive climb up Mont Ventoux followed on Bastille Day, and with or without his team mates at his side – although thanks to Richie Porte it was mostly with – Froome stayed well clear atop the GC.

Froome sealed his victory in style, winning the mountainous stage 17 before confirming victory by joining Joaquim Rodriguez and Nairo Quintana on the attack in the penultimate stage. Just one year on from helping team-mate Bradley Wiggins to victory, Froome deservedly took his spot on the podium’s top step in Paris.