Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quickstep)

Czech all-rounder Zdenek Stybar played his part in Omega Pharma-Quickstep’s phenomenal 55 victories in 2013, with individual success at the Eneco Tour and Vuelta a Espana crowning a strong year. Former cyclo-cross ace, and current Czech national ‘cross champion, Stybar started his year on the road as a key part of Mark Cavendish’s sprint train, producing some big shifts alongside Niki Terpstra as the Manx Missile rocketed to four stage victories and the overall title at the Tour of Qatar – Stybar finishing 12th overall.

Only misfortune denied him at Paris-Roubaix, as he joined what proved to be the winning break with Fabian Cancellara and Sep Vanmarcke, only to see his chance of victory ended by a collision with a spectator, forcing him to settle for sixth.

However, Stybar came back strongly after the Classics to win two stages of the Eneco Tour – the first courtesy of an opportunistic break in the final kilometres, and the second by bridging solo to race leader Ian Stannard (Team Sky) and passing him on the final straight. He then earned stage victory at the Vuelta, escaping with then world champion Philippe Gilbert in the final 10km before once again showcasing his ability to sprint by pipping the Belgian to the line.